tisdag, september 25, 2012
Large bacterial population colonized land 2.75 billion years ago
September 23, 2012
There is evidence that some microbial life had migrated from the Earth’s oceans to land by 2.75 billion years ago, though many scientists believe such land-based life was limited because the ozone layer that shields against ultraviolet radiation did not form until hundreds of millions years later.
But new research from the University of Washington suggests that early microbes might have been widespread on land, producing oxygen and weathering pyrite, an iron sulfide mineral, which released sulfur and molybdenum into the oceans.
Click to expand
“This shows that life didn’t just exist in a few little places on land. It was important on a global scale because it was enhancing the flow of sulfate from land into the ocean,” said Eva Stüeken, a UW doctoral student in Earth and space sciences.
In turn, the influx of sulfur probably enhanced the spread of life in the oceans, said Stüeken, who is the lead author of a paper presenting the research published Sunday (Sept. 23) in Nature Geoscience. The work also will be part of her doctoral dissertation.
Sulfur could have been released into sea water by other processes, including volcanic activity. But evidence that molybdenum was being released at the same time suggests that both substances were being liberated as bacteria slowly disintegrated continental rocks, she said.
If that is the case, it likely means the land-based microbes were producing oxygen well in advance of what geologists refer to as the “Great Oxidation Event” about 2.4 billion years ago that initiated the oxygen-rich atmosphere that fostered life as we know it.
In fact, the added sulfur might have allowed marine microbes to consume methane, which could have set the stage for atmospheric oxygenation. Before that occurred, it is likely large amounts of oxygen were destroyed by reacting with methane that rose from the ocean into the air.
“It supports the theory that oxygen was being produced for several hundred million years before the Great Oxidation Event. It just took time for it to reach higher concentrations in the atmosphere,” Stüeken said.
The research examined data on sulfur levels in 1,194 samples from marine sediment formations dating from before the Cambrian period began about 542 million years ago. The processes by which sulfur can be added or removed are understood well enough to detect biological contributions, the researchers said.
The data came from numerous research projects during the last several decades, but in most cases those observations were just a small part of much larger studies. In an effort to provide consistent interpretation, Stüeken combed the research record for data that came from similar types of sedimentary rock and similar environments.
“The data has been out there for a long time, but people have ignored it because it is hard to interpret when it is not part of a large database,” she said.
Co-authors are David Catling and Roger Buick, UW professors of Earth and space sciences. The work was funded by the National Science Foundation and the Virtual Planet Laboratory in the UW Department of Astronomy.
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For more information, contact Stüeken at evast@uw.edu.
But new research from the University of Washington suggests that early microbes might have been widespread on land, producing oxygen and weathering pyrite, an iron sulfide mineral, which released sulfur and molybdenum into the oceans.
Click to expand
Roger Buick/UW
A drill core from the 2.5 billion-year-old Mount McRae Shale formation in Western Australia, which originally was fine-grained ocean sediment, shows high concentrations of sulfide and molybdenum. That supports the idea that most of the sulfate came from land, likely freed by microbial activity on rocks. Some data for the research came from the Mount McRae formation.
In turn, the influx of sulfur probably enhanced the spread of life in the oceans, said Stüeken, who is the lead author of a paper presenting the research published Sunday (Sept. 23) in Nature Geoscience. The work also will be part of her doctoral dissertation.
Sulfur could have been released into sea water by other processes, including volcanic activity. But evidence that molybdenum was being released at the same time suggests that both substances were being liberated as bacteria slowly disintegrated continental rocks, she said.
If that is the case, it likely means the land-based microbes were producing oxygen well in advance of what geologists refer to as the “Great Oxidation Event” about 2.4 billion years ago that initiated the oxygen-rich atmosphere that fostered life as we know it.
In fact, the added sulfur might have allowed marine microbes to consume methane, which could have set the stage for atmospheric oxygenation. Before that occurred, it is likely large amounts of oxygen were destroyed by reacting with methane that rose from the ocean into the air.
“It supports the theory that oxygen was being produced for several hundred million years before the Great Oxidation Event. It just took time for it to reach higher concentrations in the atmosphere,” Stüeken said.
The research examined data on sulfur levels in 1,194 samples from marine sediment formations dating from before the Cambrian period began about 542 million years ago. The processes by which sulfur can be added or removed are understood well enough to detect biological contributions, the researchers said.
The data came from numerous research projects during the last several decades, but in most cases those observations were just a small part of much larger studies. In an effort to provide consistent interpretation, Stüeken combed the research record for data that came from similar types of sedimentary rock and similar environments.
“The data has been out there for a long time, but people have ignored it because it is hard to interpret when it is not part of a large database,” she said.
Co-authors are David Catling and Roger Buick, UW professors of Earth and space sciences. The work was funded by the National Science Foundation and the Virtual Planet Laboratory in the UW Department of Astronomy.
###
For more information, contact Stüeken at evast@uw.edu.
Watch President Obama Address the U.N. General Assembly (and full text)
Full Text:
Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, fellow delegates, ladies and gentleman: I would like to begin today by telling you about an American named Chris Stevens.
Chris was born in a town called Grass Valley, California, the son of a lawyer and a musician. As a young man, Chris joined the Peace Corps, and taught English in Morocco. He came to love and respect the people of North Africa and the Middle East, and he would carry that commitment throughout his life. As a diplomat, he worked from Egypt to Syria; from Saudi Arabia to Libya. He was known for walking the streets of the cities where he worked – tasting the local food, meeting as many people as he could, speaking Arabic and listening with a broad smile.
Chris went to Benghazi in the early days of the Libyan revolution, arriving on a cargo ship. As America’s representative, he helped the Libyan people as they coped with violent conflict, cared for the wounded, and crafted a vision for a future in which the rights of all Libyans would be respected. After the revolution, he supported the birth of a new democracy, as Libyans held elections, built new institutions, and began to move forward after decades of dictatorship.
Chris Stevens loved his work. He took pride in the country he served, and saw dignity in the people he met. Two weeks ago, he travelled to Benghazi to review plans to establish a new cultural center and modernize a hospital. That’s when America’s compound came under attack. Along with three of his colleagues, Chris was killed in the city he helped to save. He was 52 years old.
I tell you this story because Chris Stevens embodied the best of America. Like his fellow Foreign Service officers, he built bridges across oceans and cultures, and was deeply invested in the international cooperation that the United Nations represents. He acted with humility, but stood up for a set of principles – a belief that individuals should be free to determine their own destiny, and live with liberty, dignity, justice, and opportunity.
The attacks on our civilians in Benghazi were attacks on America. We are grateful for the assistance we received from the Libyan government and the Libyan people. And there should be no doubt that we will be relentless in tracking down the killers and bringing them to justice. I also appreciate that in recent days, the leaders of other countries in the region – including Egypt, Tunisia, and Yemen – have taken steps to secure our diplomatic facilities, and called for calm. So have religious authorities around the globe.
But the attacks of the last two weeks are not simply an assault on America. They are also an assault on the very ideals upon which the United Nations was founded – the notion that people can resolve their differences peacefully; that diplomacy can take the place of war; and that in an interdependent world, all of us have a stake in working towards greater opportunity and security for our citizens.
If we are serious about upholding these ideals, it will not be enough to put more guards in front of an Embassy; or to put out statements of regret, and wait for the outrage to pass. If we are serious about those ideals, we must speak honestly about the deeper causes of this crisis. Because we face a choice between the forces that would drive us apart, and the hopes we hold in common.
Today, we must affirm that our future will be determined by people like Chris Stevens, and not by his killers. Today, we must declare that this violence and intolerance has no place among our United Nations.
It has been less than two years since a vendor in Tunisia set himself on fire to protest the oppressive corruption in his country, and sparked what became known as the Arab Spring. Since then, the world has been captivated by the transformation that has taken place, and the United States has supported the forces of change.
We were inspired by the Tunisian protests that toppled a dictator, because we recognized our own beliefs in the aspirations of men and women who took to the streets.
We insisted on change in Egypt, because our support for democracy put us on the side of the people.
We supported a transition of leadership in Yemen, because the interests of the people were not being served by a corrupt status quo.
We intervened in Libya alongside a broad coalition, and with the mandate of the U.N. Security Council, because we had the ability to stop the slaughter of innocents; and because we believed that the aspirations of the people were more powerful than a tyrant.
And as we meet here, we again declare that the regime of Bashar al-Assad must come to an end so that the suffering of the Syrian people can stop, and a new dawn can begin.
We have taken these positions because we believe that freedom and self-determination are not unique to one culture. These are not simply American values or Western values – they are universal values. And even as there will be huge challenges that come with a transition to democracy, I am convinced that ultimately government of the people, by the people and for the people is more likely to bring about the stability, prosperity, and individual opportunity that serve as a basis for peace in our world.
So let us remember that this is a season of progress. For the first time in decades, Tunisians, Egyptians, and Libyans voted for new leaders in elections that were credible, competitive, and fair. This democratic spirit has not been restricted to the Arab World. Over the past year, we have seen peaceful transitions of power in Malawi and Senegal, and a new President in Somalia. In Burma, a President has freed political prisoners and opened a closed society; a courageous dissident has been elected to Parliament; and people look forward to further reform. Around the globe, people are making their voices heard, insisting on their innate dignity, and the right to determine their future.
And yet the turmoil of recent weeks reminds us that the path to democracy does not end with the casting of a ballot. Nelson Mandela once said: “to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” True democracy demands that citizens cannot be thrown in jail because of what they believe, and businesses can be opened without paying a bribe. It depends on the freedom of citizens to speak their minds and assemble without fear; on the rule of law and due process that guarantees the rights of all people.
In other words, true democracy – real freedom – is hard work. Those in power have to resist the temptation to crack down on dissent. In hard economic times, countries may be tempted to rally the people around perceived enemies, at home and abroad, rather than focusing on the painstaking work of reform.
Moreover, there will always be those that reject human progress – dictators who cling to power, corrupt interests that depend upon the status quo; and extremists who fan the flames of hate and division. From Northern Ireland to South Asia; from Africa to the Americas; from the Balkans to the Pacific Rim, we’ve witnessed convulsions that can accompany transitions to a new political order. At times, the conflicts arise along the fault lines of faith, race or tribe; and often they arise from the difficulties of reconciling tradition and faith with the diversity and interdependence of the modern world. In every country, there are those who find different religious beliefs threatening; in every culture, those who love freedom for themselves must ask how much they are willing to tolerate freedom for others.
That is what we saw play out the last two weeks, as a crude and disgusting video sparked outrage throughout the Muslim world. I have made it clear that the United States government had nothing to do with this video, and I believe its message must be rejected by all who respect our common humanity. It is an insult not only to Muslims, but to America as well – for as the city outside these walls makes clear, we are a country that has welcomed people of every race and religion. We are home to Muslims who worship across our country. We not only respect the freedom of religion – we have laws that protect individuals from being harmed because of how they look or what they believe. We understand why people take offense to this video because millions of our citizens are among them.
I know there are some who ask why we don’t just ban such a video. The answer is enshrined in our laws: our Constitution protects the right to practice free speech. Here in the United States, countless publications provoke offense. Like me, the majority of Americans are Christian, and yet we do not ban blasphemy against our most sacred beliefs. Moreover, as President of our country, and Commander-in-Chief of our military, I accept that people are going to call me awful things every day, and I will always defend their right to do so. Americans have fought and died around the globe to protect the right of all people to express their views – even views that we disagree with.
We do so not because we support hateful speech, but because our Founders understood that without such protections, the capacity of each individual to express their own views, and practice their own faith, may be threatened. We do so because in a diverse society, efforts to restrict speech can become a tool to silence critics, or oppress minorities. We do so because given the power of faith in our lives, and the passion that religious differences can inflame, the strongest weapon against hateful speech is not repression, it is more speech – the voices of tolerance that rally against bigotry and blasphemy, and lift up the values of understanding and mutual respect.
I know that not all countries in this body share this understanding of the protection of free speech. Yet in 2012, at a time when anyone with a cell phone can spread offensive views around the world with the click of a button, the notion that we can control the flow of information is obsolete. The question, then, is how we respond. And on this we must agree: there is no speech that justifies mindless violence.
There are no words that excuse the killing of innocents. There is no video that justifies an attack on an Embassy. There is no slander that provides an excuse for people to burn a restaurant in Lebanon, or destroy a school in Tunis, or cause death and destruction in Pakistan (Min färgläggning).
More broadly, the events of the last two weeks speak to the need for all of us to address honestly the tensions between the West and an Arab World moving to democracy. Just as we cannot solve every problem in the world, the United States has not, and will not, seek to dictate the outcome of democratic transitions abroad, and we do not expect other nations to agree with us on every issue. Nor do we assume that the violence of the past weeks, or the hateful speech by some individuals, represents the views of the overwhelming majority of Muslims– any more than the views of the people who produced this video represent those of Americans.
However, I do believe that it is the obligation of all leaders, in all countries, to speak out forcefully against violence and extremism. It is time to marginalize those who – even when not resorting to violence – use hatred of America, or the West, or Israel as a central principle of politics. For that only gives cover, and sometimes makes excuses, for those who resort to violence.
That brand of politics – one that pits East against West; South against North; Muslim against Christian, Hindu, and Jew – cannot deliver the promise of freedom. To the youth, it offers only false hope. Burning an American flag will do nothing to educate a child. Smashing apart a restaurant will not fill an empty stomach. Attacking an Embassy won’t create a single job. That brand of politics only makes it harder to achieve what we must do together: educating our children and creating the opportunities they deserve; protecting human rights, and extending democracy’s promise.
Understand that America will never retreat from the world. We will bring justice to those who harm our citizens and our friends. We will stand with our allies and are willing to partner with countries to deepen ties of trade and investment; science and technology; energy and development – efforts that can spark economic growth for all of our people, and stabilize democratic change. But such efforts depend upon a spirit of mutual interest and mutual respect. No government or company; no school or NGO will be confident working in a country where its people are endangered. For partnership to be effective, our citizens must be secure and our efforts must be welcomed.
A politics based only on anger –one based on dividing the world between us and them – not only sets back international cooperation, it ultimately undermines those who tolerate it. All of us have an interest in standing up to these forces. Let us remember that Muslims have suffered the most at the hands of extremism. On the same day our civilians were killed in Benghazi, a Turkish police officer was murdered in Istanbul only days before his wedding; more than ten Yemenis were killed in a car bomb in Sana’a; and several Afghan children were mourned by their parents just days after they were killed by a suicide bomber in Kabul.
The impulse towards intolerance and violence may initially be focused on the West, but over time it cannot be contained. The same impulses toward extremism are used to justify war between Sunnis and Shia, between tribes and clans. It leads not to strength and prosperity but to chaos. In less than two years, we have seen largely peaceful protests bring more change to Muslim-majority countries than a decade of violence. Extremists understand this. And because they have nothing to offer to improve the lives of people, violence is their only way to stay relevant. They do not build, they only destroy.
It is time to leave the call of violence and the politics of division behind. On so many issues, we face a choice between the promise of the future, or the prisons of the past. We cannot afford to get it wrong. We must seize this moment. And America stands ready to work with all who are willing to embrace a better future.
The future must not belong to those who target Coptic Christians in Egypt – it must be claimed by those in Tahrir Square who chanted “Muslims, Christians, we are one.” The future must not belong to those who bully women – it must be shaped by girls who go to school, and those who stand for a world where our daughters can live their dreams just like our sons. The future must not belong to those corrupt few who steal a country’s resources – it must be won by the students and entrepreneurs; workers and business owners who seek a broader prosperity for all people. Those are the men and women that America stands with; theirs is the vision we will support.
The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam. Yet to be credible, those who condemn that slander must also condemn the hate we see when the image of Jesus Christ is desecrated, churches are destroyed, or the Holocaust is denied. Let us condemn incitement against Sufi Muslims, and Shiite pilgrims. It is time to heed the words of Gandhi: “Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit.” Together, we must work towards a world where we are strengthened by our differences, and not defined by them. That is what America embodies, and that is the vision we will support.
Among Israelis and Palestinians, the future must not belong to those who turn their backs on the prospect of peace. Let us leave behind those who thrive on conflict, and those who reject the right of Israel to exist. The road is hard but the destination is clear – a secure, Jewish state of Israel; and an independent, prosperous Palestine. Understanding that such a peace must come through a just agreement between the parties, America will walk alongside all who are prepared to make that journey.
In Syria, the future must not belong to a dictator who massacres his people. If there is a cause that cries out for protest in the world today, it is a regime that tortures children and shoots rockets at apartment buildings. And we must remain engaged to assure that what began with citizens demanding their rights does not end in a cycle of sectarian violence.
Together, we must stand with those Syrians who believe in a different vision – a Syria that is united and inclusive; where children don’t need to fear their own government, and all Syrians have a say in how they are governed – Sunnis and Alawites; Kurds and Christians. That is what America stands for; that is the outcome that we will work for – with sanctions and consequences for those who persecute; and assistance and support for those who work for this common good. Because we believe that the Syrians who embrace this vision will have the strength and legitimacy to lead.
In Iran, we see where the path of a violent and unaccountable ideology leads. The Iranian people have a remarkable and ancient history, and many Iranians wish to enjoy peace and prosperity alongside their neighbors. But just as it restricts the rights of its own people, the Iranian government props up a dictator in Damascus and supports terrorist groups abroad. Time and again, it has failed to take the opportunity to demonstrate that its nuclear program is peaceful, and to meet its obligations to the United Nations.
Let me be clear: America wants to resolve this issue through diplomacy, and we believe that there is still time and space to do so. But that time is not unlimited. We respect the right of nations to access peaceful nuclear power, but one of the purposes of the United Nations is to see that we harness that power for peace. Make no mistake: a nuclear-armed Iran is not a challenge that can be contained. It would threaten the elimination of Israel, the security of Gulf nations, and the stability of the global economy. It risks triggering a nuclear-arms race in the region, and the unraveling of the non-proliferation treaty. That is why a coalition of countries is holding the Iranian government accountable. And that is why the United States will do what we must to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
We know from painful experience that the path to security and prosperity does not lie outside the boundaries of international law and respect for human rights. That is why this institution was established from the rubble of conflict; that is why liberty triumphed over tyranny in the Cold War; and that is the lesson of the last two decades as well. History shows that peace and progress come to those who make the right choices.
Nations in every part of the world have travelled this hard path. Europe - the bloodiest battlefield of the 20th century – is united, free and at peace. From Brazil to South Africa; from Turkey to South Korea; from India to Indonesia; people of different races, religions, and traditions have lifted millions out of poverty, while respecting the rights of their citizens and meeting their responsibilities as nations.
And it is because of the progress I’ve witnessed that after nearly four years as President, I am hopeful about the world we live in. The war in Iraq is over, and our troops have come home. We have begun a transition in Afghanistan, and America and our allies will end our war on schedule in 2014. Al Qaeda has been weakened and Osama bin Laden is no more. Nations have come together to lock down nuclear materials, and America and Russia are reducing our arsenals. I’ve seen hard choices made – from Naypyidaw to Cairo to Abidjan – to put more power in the hands of citizens.
At a time of economic challenge, the world has come together to broaden prosperity. Through the G-20, we have partnered with emerging countries to keep the world on the path of recovery. America has pursued a development agenda that fuels growth and breaks dependency, and worked with African leaders to help them feed their nations. New partnerships have been forged to combat corruption and promote government that is open and transparent. New commitments have been made through the Equal Futures Partnership to ensure that women and girls can fully participate in politics and pursue opportunity. And later today, I will discuss our efforts to combat the scourge of human trafficking.
But what gives me the most hope is not the actions of leaders – it is the people I’ve seen. The American troops who have risked their lives and sacrificed their limbs for strangers half a world away. The students in Jakarta and Seoul who are eager to use their knowledge to benefit humankind. The faces in a square in Prague or a parliament in Ghana who see democracy giving voice to their aspirations. The young people in the favelas of Rio and the schools of Mumbai whose eyes shine with promise. These men, women and children of every race and every faith remind me that for every angry mob that gets shown on television, there are billions around the globe who share similar hopes and dreams. They tell us that there is a common heartbeat to humanity.
So much attention in our world turns to what divides us. That’s what we see on the news, and that consumes our political debates. But when you strip that all away, people everywhere long for the freedom to determine their destiny; the dignity that comes with work; the comfort that comes from faith; and the justice that exists when governments serve their people – and not the other way around.
The United States of America will always stand up for these aspirations, for our own people, and all across the world. That was our founding purpose. That is what our history shows. And that is what Chris Stevens worked for throughout his life.
And today I promise you this – long after these killers are brought to justice, Chris Stevens’ legacy will live on in the lives he touched. In the tens of thousands who marched against violence through the streets of Benghazi; in the Libyans who changed their Facebook photo to one of Chris; in the sign that read, simply, “Chris Stevens was a friend to all Libyans.”
They should give us hope. They should remind us that so long as we work for it justice will be done; that history is on our side; and that a rising tide of liberty will never be reversed. Thank you.
Bönestunder på Bokmässan
Det hektiska programmet i Nordens monter på Bokmässan inleds varje dag med en morgonbön – en judisk, en kristen, en sikhisk och en muslimsk.
Bokmässans besökare kan ladda batterierna med en bön i den nordiska montern varje morgon. Torsdagen 27 september leds bönen av Peter Borenstein, rabbin, verksam i Göteborg och överläkare i neurologi. På fredagen håller Marika Palmdahl, tidigare stiftsadjunkt för interreligiös dialog vid Svenska kyrkan i bönen och på lördagen sikhiske Balprit Singh, 17-årig gymnasist som är född och uppvuxen i Oslo.
Den sista bönen, söndag 30 september, leds av Naveed Baig, imam och projektledare för ett etniskt resursteam i Köpenhamn samt vice ordförande i Islamisk-Kristet studiecenter.
Den sista bönen, söndag 30 september, leds av Naveed Baig, imam och projektledare för ett etniskt resursteam i Köpenhamn samt vice ordförande i Islamisk-Kristet studiecenter.
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Hastigheten i tätort bör sänkas, visar forskningen
– Hela staden skulle vinna på lägre hastigheter, samtidigt som nackdelarna är minimala. Under 30 km/h är dödsrisken nära noll. Vid 50 km/h är risken för att dö eller skadas allvarligt ca 20 gånger större. Förra året dog 52 personer på gator med hastighetsbegränsning 50 km/h, säger Andras Varhelyi, trafikforskare vid Lunds Tekniska Högskola och den som gjort analysen tillsammans med kollegorna Åse Svensson och Christer Hydén.
Deras rekommendation gäller i tätortsmiljöer där fotgängare och cyklister interagerar med bilar. Då handlar det om långt mer än att sätta upp 30-skyltar - dessa ger ingen större effekt - utan om ett nytt sätt att använda stadens ytor och att anpassa fordonen, så att samspelet mellan olika trafikanter fungerar bättre än idag. I grunden handlar det om ett systemskifte.
Särskilt känsliga för krockar vid hastigheter över 30 km/h är personer över 60 år. Tidigare trodde man att skaderisken för gångtrafikanter som krockar med ett fordon var oberoende av den skadades ålder, men nya resultat visar att varje åldergrupp har sin egen kurva.
Andra studier visar att vid 30 km/h och därunder interagerar bilister med cyklister och gångtrafikanter på jämnare villkor, men att detta samspel kraftigt försämras vid 50 km/h. Enligt forskarna är sådan här interaktion avgörande för en fungerande trafikmiljö.
– Bilförares benägenhet att väja gentemot cyklister är starkt hastighetsberoende. 70 procent väjer vid 30 km/h och under. Det finns ingen väjningsplikt för bilförare vid cykelöverfarter, men vid låga hastigheter uppstår de spontant, säger Andras Varhelyi och tillägger:
– Vid låga hastigheter kan man plocka bort de flesta trafiksignaler, då människan är mycket effektivare i samspel med varandra än med styralgoritmer.
Vidare tar bilarna mindre plats eftersom de behöver kortare avstånd mellan varandra. Dessutom minskar bullret proportionerligt. Utsläppen kan på sikt bli väsentligt lägre när väl fordon tas fram med en prestanda som är anpassade till stadens krav på låga hastigheter.
Den enda minusposten är att det tar något längre tid att färdas.
– Skillnaderna är dock marginella. Den genomsnittliga reshastigheten i stadskörning är idag ca 25 km/h. Att topphastigheten sänks på ett antal sträckor där det skulle gå att köra fortare än 30 km/h påverkar knappt restiden, eftersom man ändå måste sakta in och stanna vid trafiksignaler och vid interaktion med andra trafikanter, säger Christer Hydén.
Forskarna betonar att bilen är ett flexibelt transportmedel, men att dess hastighet inte är anpassad till livet i staden. Till exempel skulle de gärna se att man kan ställa in någon slags stadsmodus på bilarna.
– Dagens motorer är optimala för hastigheter i 50 -90 km/h och således inte anpassade för stadskörning. Det behövs mer forskning om hur ett system där det inte går att köra fortare än 30 km/h skulle fungera i praktiken och hur det skulle upplevas av stadens invånare, säger Åse Svensson.
Enligt forskarna har Trafikverket ibland för slappa rekommendationer. Säkra övergångsställen definieras exempelvis som att 85 procent av bilisterna ska köra under 30 km/h.
– Det innebär att det är ok att 15 procent av motorfordonen passerar med en hastighet högre än 30 km/h! Erfarenheten visar att det är just denna grupp som tar högre risker än genomsnittsbilisten, säger András Várhelyi och tillägger att maxhastigheter överlag idag lätt omdefinieras av bilförare.
– Jag hoppas att denna sammanställning kan vara en ögonöppnare. Tidigare har man inte haft ett samlat underlag att utgå från.
Framöver vill forskarna gärna gå vidare och pröva låghastighetsstrategier i större skala i städer som är intresserade.
Det är enda sättet att få tillräcklig kunskap om alla effekter, menar de, kunskap som kommunerna behöver som underlag för politiska beslut.
Forskningen presenterades vid ett seminarium idag, kl 10-11 (inbjudan har tidigare skickats u).
För mer information, kontakta Christer Hydén, professor emeritus trafik och väg, 046-222 91 30, 070-877 03 99, Christer.Hyden@tft.lth.se, Andras Varhelyi, professor Trafik och väg, 0734-22 45 64, Andras.Varhelyi@tft.lth.se eller Åse Svensson lektor, Trafik och väg, 046-222 91 42, Ase.Svensson@tft.lth.se.
Högupplösta bilder på forskarna finns i Lunds universitets bildbank, se https://bildweb.srv.lu.se/. Skriv namnet i sökfältet.
För kontakt med fler forskare inom trafikteknik, se här: http://www.lth.se/formedia/expertlista_trafikteknik/
Today's headlines
England - Today's headlines
The Guardian
Damian Lewis hails golden age of TV at Emmys. P3
Record iPhone 5 sales fall short of forecasts. P11
The Independent
Nick Grimshaw's first day at Radio 1. P7
Police officer first to be charged over leaks to News of the World. P7
Bloggers in Vietnam jailed for criticising state. P33
i
David Cameron to appear on David Letterman show. P3
Fireman Sam helps boy save his mother. P3
Police investigate leak to the Sun over Andrew Mitchell. P6
Riot at Foxconn factory. P11
Emmys coverage. P17
Nick Grimshaw debut on Radio 1. P17
Greek journalists to go on strike. P17
Vietnam jails bloggers. P23
Daily Telegraph
David Cameron to appear on David Letterman show. P1
Facebook row over old private messages being made public. P2
Magazine editor receives death threats over topless Kate photos. P17
Apple's iPhone 5 sales record soured. Business, P1
Eliot Spitzer criticises News Corporation inquiry. Business, P3
The Times
David Cameron to appear on David Letterman Late Show. P3
TV's Fat Lady Clarissa Dickson Wright upsets badger campaigners. P16
50 injured in brawl at iPhone factory. P28
Sir James Dyson criticises the coalition's digital strategy. P33
T2 The Emmys. P4 & 5
T2 Nick Grimshaw's new Radio 1 breakfast show. P9
Camelot appeals directly to David Cameron. P37
Financial Times
Hugo Chavez accused of monopolising TV airtime in election run-up. P11
Vietnam court jails bloggers. P11
Riot at Foxconn factory. P19
Wall Street Journal Europe
Riot at Foxconn factory. P1/12
Operation Elveden: DCI Casburn charged. P6
US presidential candidates appear on 60 Minutes. P8
Editorial: Barack Obama seeking to regulate internet. P16
iPhone 5 sales top 5m. P21
Cost of manufacturing new iPhone kept low. P21
Megaupload case faces new scrutiny. P21
New focus on tech start-ups in Silicon Valley. P31
Daily Mail
Emmys coverage. P3
BBC direction group cut from 25 to 12, including Alan Yentob. P6
Apple suffers a sales rot over iPhone 5. P65
Daily Express
Camelot ends battle with Richard Desmond's Health Lottery. P11
The Sun
X Factor coverage. TVbiz, P1
Daily Mirror
Nick Grimshaw's first day at BBC Radio 1. P16
Daily Star
X Factor coverage. P11
Att prenumerera på Der Spiegels nyhetsbrev är ett "måste" för intresserade av internationella samhällsfrågor
| SPIEGEL ONLINE | INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER |
| Compiled on September 24, 2012, 06:34 PM CET |
| 'Innocence of Muslims' Governments and Islamists Exploit Film Protests The protests against "Innocence of Muslims" are not just spontaneous outbreaks of rage. Radical Islamists and governments are exploiting the unrest for their own ends. In the process, it is hard for moderate Muslims to make their voices heard. By SPIEGEL Staff |
| Threat of Violence Ban on Showing Anti-Islam Film Unlikely A right-wing populist group in Germany has sparked a heated legal debate with its plan to show the anti-Islam film that has inspired protest across the Muslim world. Despite a real threat of Islamist violence, experts say precedence indicates a ban on the event is unlikely. |
| Salman Rushdie on Life Under a Fatwa 'I Insist on the Right to Freedom of Expression' For over a decade, author Salman Rushdie had to live in hiding from Muslim extremists intent on assassinating him in accordance with an Iranian fatwa. SPIEGEL spoke with Rushdie about the trying experience and why he has now chosen to write about it in his new memoir. |
| 20 Billion Euro Gap Troika Nearly Doubles Estimate of Greek Shortfall Greece's budget shortfall now totals 20 billion euros, according to preliminary estimates by international lenders, SPIEGEL has learned. Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has asked public-sector creditors to forgive some debt. Meanwhile, Berlin and the European Commission are divided over when the decision on Greece's fate should be taken. |
| Up to Two Trillion Europe Plans to Leverage Euro-Zone Bailout Fund Officially, the ESM permanent euro-zone bailout fund is worth 500 billion euros. That, though, might not be enough, which is why euro-zone governments are now planning to introduce levers that could mobilize up to 2trillion euros, SPIEGEL has learned. Finland, though, is skeptical of the idea. |
| Senkaku Islands Dispute Former Owner Criticizes Japanese Government The Senkaku Islands are at the center of a conflict between Japan and China, which both lay claim to the tiny outcrops. The islands used to belong to a rich Japanese family, who recently sold them to the government. One of the members of the family told SPIEGEL that Tokyo should have done more to defend Japan's sovereignty. |
| Fading Opposition Parliamentary Vote Leaves Belarus Despot Stronger Before the ballots had even been counted, Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko presented himself as the winner of Sunday's parliamentary election. The man dubbed "Europe's last dictator" is benefiting from the deep divisions among his opponents, and has even enjoyed increasing public support. |
| The World from Berlin 'Benghazi's People Have Earned Our Admiration' Libya has cracked down on its powerful militias following a mass protest against the armed group believed to be behind the deadly attack on the US mission in Benghazi earlier this month. German commentators on Monday praise the development, but question what it will mean for the country's future. |
| Fewer Visitors, More Beer Guests Defy Rain for Oktoberfest Opener Rainy weather discouraged visitors as taps opened at Oktoberfest this weekend, but it didn't diminish their thirst. Though there were fewer revellers than usual at the world's largest festival, they drank just as much beer, despite yet another price increase. |
| Helmut Schmidt and the SPIEGEL Affair 'I Would Storm the Barricades Myself' Helmut Schmidt is one of the last living protagonists in the SPIEGEL affair. At an event in Hamburg marking the 50th anniversary of the biggest government scandal in Germany's postwar history, the former chancellor discusses the events and how he himself came under investigation. |
| A Palace for Poets and Thinkers Germany Considers New Cultural Institute in US A proposal by the Foreign Ministry in Berlin for a German American Forum on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan is proving controversial. The project's detractors say it would create unnecessary competition for existing institutions that are already struggling to make ends meet. They also warn of staggering costs for the building on one of New York's most famous streets. |
| Boom Goes the Dynamite Hapless Robbers Blow Up German Bank Thieves in Germany would seem to have been a bit overeager in their attempt to crack open a cash machine using explosives on Sunday night. The resulting blast destroyed the entire bank branch, causing hundreds of thousands of euros in damage. |
| Picture This For the Birds |
President Obama
September 25, 2012 Compiled: 12:18 AM
President Obama was in campaign mode as he arrived in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, leaving the diplomatic duties to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Seeking to retake the offensive in the campaign, Mitt Romney and Representative Paul D. Ryan criticized President Obama’s handling of recent events in the Middle East and North Africa.
FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending September 21, 2012
Man kan alltså prenumerera (gratis) på FBIs nyhetsbrev
| Washington, D.C. September 21, 2012 | |
- Chicago: Former CME Group Software Engineer Pleads Guilty to Stealing Globex Computer Trade Secrets While Planning to Improve Electronic Trading in China
Chunlai Yang admitted that he downloaded more than 10,000 files containing CME computer source code that made up a substantial part of the operating systems for the Globex electronic trading platform. Full Story - San Francisco: Taiwan-Based AU Optronics Corporation Sentenced to Pay $500 Million Criminal Fine for Role in LCD Price Fixing Conspiracy
The liquid crystal display (LCD) producer was sentenced for its participation in a five-year conspiracy to fix the prices of thin-film transistor LCD panels sold worldwide. Full Story - Cleveland: Sixteen Defendants Convicted of Federal Hate Crime Charges
The federal hate crime charges arose out of a series of religiously motivated assaults on practitioners of the Amish religion. Full Story - Atlanta: Man Who Operated Sex Trafficking Ring Sentenced to Life
Soloman Manasseh Mustafa committed violent sexual acts against his victims, bound them with duct tape, took their identification, and committed other atrocities in order to hold them captive. Full Story - Baltimore: Police Officer Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking While on DutyDaniel Redd was sentenced for conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute a kilogram or more of heroin and for using a gun in a drug trafficking crime. Full Story
- New York: Online Poker Executive Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering, Bank Fraud, and Internet Gambling Offenses
The former director of payments for Pokerstars and Full Tilt Poker admitted participation in a scheme to deceive banks into processing hundreds of millions of dollars of Internet gambling transactions. Full Story - Salt Lake City: Investigation Leads to Indictment of 21 People on Gun and Drug Charges
Law enforcement agents identified Aryan Knight gang members who were trafficking methamphetamine, as well as associates of the gang who were the source of the drugs. Full Story - Portland: Former CEO of Sunwest Management Indicted on Federal Fraud Charges
Jon Michael Harder was charged with defrauding more than 1,000 investors out of approximately $130 million during a two-year period. Full Story - Philadelphia: Phony Psychiatrist Sentenced for Defrauding Patients, Doctors, and Insurance Companies
Jo Benoit was sentenced to six years in prison for a health care fraud scheme that victimized more than 50 patients. Full Story - Washington Field: Culpeper Man Sentenced to More Than 50 Years for Armed Robberies, Carjacking
George Golder Phillips, II was sentenced for committing a series of armed robberies of financial institutions and businesses and for kidnapping and carjacking a woman. Full Story