A second look at data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is reanimating the claim that the nearby star Fomalhaut hosts a massive exoplanet. The study suggests that the planet, named Fomalhaut b, is a rare and possibly unique object that is completely shrouded by dust. "Although our results seriously challenge the original discovery paper, they do so in a way that actually makes the object's interpretation much cleaner and leaves intact the core conclusion, that Fomalhaut b is indeed a massive planet," said Thayne Currie, an astronomer formerly at NASA's Goddard Space ...

NASA's Cassini spacecraft has tracked the aftermath of a rare massive storm on Saturn. Data reveal record-setting disturbances in the planet's upper atmosphere long after the visible signs of the storm abated, in addition to an indication the storm was more forceful than scientists previously thought. Data from Cassini's composite infrared spectrometer (CIRS) instrument revealed the storm's powerful discharge sent the temperature in Saturn's stratosphere soaring 150 degrees Fahrenheit (83 kelvins) above normal. At the same time, researchers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight ...

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Assassin bugs, so named because these insects lie in ambush for prey that they attack with speed and precision, are found all over the world. Nearly 140 species of these bugs are blood-sucking; because they can bite humans around the mouth, they are also called kissing bugs. All kissing bugs can spread Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease that imposes an economic burden on society. Surprising, then, that scientists' understanding of the evolutionary history of assassin bugs is riddled with difficulty. The data are incomplete. Fossils, which ...

Older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at increased risk for carotid artery plaque formation and for the presence of vulnerable plaques with a lipid core, according to a new study from researchers in the Netherlands. "We know that COPD is a risk factor for ischemic stroke, and that certain components of carotid artery plaques such as intraplaque hemorrhage and lipid core increase the risk of ischemic events, but plaque composition in patients with COPD has not been examined," said researcher Bruno H.C. Stricker, MD, PhD, professor of pharmaco-epidemiology ...

Ottawa, October 26, 2012 - In Canada alone, almost 2 million people are known to be living with diabetes. And around a million more have the disease but are not aware of that fact, and have not been given the tools they need to control their blood sugar and safeguard their health. The Heart Institute will be presenting the results of an innovative pilot program on October 29, at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress in Toronto, Canada. Diabetic patients have a much greater risk of dangerous cardiovascular events, including recurrent heart attacks and development of heart ...

A divorce marks more than just the end of a relationship; it also represents the end of a financial partnership. As a result, it is important to take a step back from the emotional side of the divorce and review the financial side both during and after the divorce proceeding. Before a divorce is finalized, it is wise to attempt to develop a post-divorce budget. This will help you to determine what assets you need when determining marital property division in the divorce. After the divorce is complete, take a moment to look over your new expenses and income. Review ...

A group of Cold Stone Creamery franchisees is suing parent company Cold Stone Creamery Inc. over the failure of the franchisor to disclose information about marketing and gift cards. The franchisee-franchisor suit regarding an alleged lack of transparency was filed in a Florida court. The National Independent Association of Cold Stone Creamery Franchisees filed suit against Cold Stone Creamery earlier this year asking Cold Stone to disclose the amount of money in a flexible marketing program and the unspent amount in the ice cream chain's gift card program. The NIACCF ...

Proprietary information is the life blood of businesses and it is as important as ever in today's business world. Businesses can use tools like non-disclosure forms to protect trade secrets from third parties, and tools like non-compete agreements to help ensure that former employees who learned their skills and knowledge from the business do not use confidential business information to benefit competitors. One way a business can protect its unique information from being used elsewhere is a non-disclosure agreement. A non-disclosure or confidentiality agreement requires ...

After a long stretch of elevated foreclosure rates in Texas and around the country, recent months have brought some signs of stabilization in the real estate market. In July 2012, foreclosure rates in Austin dropped slightly in both month-to-month and year-over-year measurements. According to consumer analytics firm CoreLogic Inc., 1.05 percent of Austin homes were in some stage of foreclosure in July 2012, compared with 1.07 percent the previous month and 1.08 percent in July 2011. Mortgage delinquencies also show signs of decline, with 2.88 percent of Austin mortgages ...

In the last few years the tough economy has caused many businesses to change how they work. In some cases, these changes can lead to innovation in the marketplace; in others it can lead to an increased risk of potential injuries and faulty products. Unfortunately, some contractors are falling into the latter category. Many contractors are attempting to stay afloat financially by taking on jobs in new markets. Professionals within the construction industry state that contractors are often tempted to expand their market by going one of three different directions: -Expanding ...

The data police can and cannot obtain from a cellphone or GPS tracking device without a warrant has been a frequent subject of legal dispute in recent years. The U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals recently weighed in on the subject, ruling that police can look at a cellphone without a warrant to obtain the cellphone's number. Gaining the phone's number allows police to track the cellphone's call history and location by contacting the cellphone's carrier. The issue arose from a case involving an alleged drug crime. Police found a cellphone on the suspect, Alberto Santana-Cabrera, ...

Chicago was the first large city in the country to punish retailers that sell synthetic drugs that mimic the effects of marijuana and other illegal drugs. Commonly disguised as bath salts, incense or potpourri, these synthetic drugs are often changed chemically to make them legal but still provide users with intoxicating effects. However, the side effects of the drug can be severe; they can cause hallucinations, seizures, paranoid behavior and high blood pressure. In some cases they can cause violent episodes or cause users to go, "Out of their minds," according ...

In Pennsylvania, you are required to purchase several forms of auto insurance before you can legally get behind the wheel. There are also several optional types of insurance -- including uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, or UM/UIM -- that may or may not be in your policy. UM and UIM can provide protection against those drivers who fail to purchase the auto insurance required by Pennsylvania law. Uninsured and Underinsured Drivers If an uninsured motorist caused your accident and you still need to make up for your accident-related losses even after obtaining ...

Bratz dolls took the toy-making world by storm in 2001, replacing the formerly wildly popular Barbie doll as the top-selling fashion doll by 2006. Mattel, the manufacturer of Barbie Dolls, alleged that MGA, the manufacturer of Bratz dolls, stole the idea for the dolls from Mattel. Mattel sued MGA, setting off a lengthy court battle over copyright infringement allegations. In 2011, a jury found that Mattel, not MGA, stole trade secrets and awarded MGA damages. Mattel has announced plans to appeal the copyright infringement finding. Eight-Year Ordeal Mattel originally ...

A wrongful death lawsuit is a legal claim that arises when someone dies as a result of another party's negligence or wrongdoing. A wrongful death may be caused by a negligent act such as a car crash or medical malpractice, or by a deliberately harmful act such as physical assault. Individuals as well as corporations and other entities can be held liable in an Illinois wrongful death lawsuit, as can their insurance companies. The Purpose of the Wrongful Death Statute The purpose of a wrongful death lawsuit is to provide financial compensation to the people who have ...

One of the more difficult parts of being a business owner is dealing with tax issues. The tax laws in the U.S. can be complicated, and those who own or run business can easily make mistakes in payroll taxes. When the IRS believes that a business has not paid all of the payroll taxes it owes, it may pursue payment from not just the business owners, but any person whom it deems a responsible party. People should understand how the IRS determines who is a responsible party, what constitutes willful failure to pay taxes and the potential penalties a person faces for willful ...

A 71-year-old New York man is currently facing charges of possessing dangerous weapons. The weapons at issue are not dangerous semi-automatic guns. In fact, the weapons in question are not even guns, switchblade knives, or brass knuckles. Instead, according to the Huffington Post, the man received the weapons charges because a penknife and commemorative, miniature baseball bat were found within his vehicle. The man facing these weapons charges, Joseph "Jazz" Hayden, has a reputation in his community as a civil rights advocate. Many members of this community ...

Virginia drivers who are convicted of a first-time drunk driving offense now must install and use an ignition interlock system on their vehicles as a condition of receiving a restricted permit. The requirement took effect July 1, 2012. Previously, Virginia law required ignition interlock only for repeat offenders or for first-time offenders with very high blood alcohol levels, at 0.15 and above. How Ignition Interlock Works An ignition interlock system uses an analyzing device attached to the vehicle's ignition. In order to start the car, the driver must provide a ...

Parents have an obligation to support their children financially. When parents divorce, or when parents who were never married split up, one of the ways that a parent fulfills this obligation is by paying child support. In some cases, a parent's circumstances will change after the court enters a child support order and he or she will need to have the order modified. Arizona parents should be aware of what a child support modification is, when a parent may seek a modification and why a parent should use the court to modify child support. When Can a Parent Seek Modification? A ...

Divorce is a difficult thing for most people to endure and the pain of divorce can increase exponentially for those small-business owners if they end up losing part of their business in a divorce property settlement. Arizona is a "community property" state, which means that the court splits a couple's marital assets evenly in the event of a divorce. Arizona business owners can take steps to prevent the court from viewing their businesses as marital property, and also to ensure that the court treats the businesses fairly in an asset division in the event that the ...

Apple, Inc. is renowned for being the maker of wildly popular electronic devices such as the iPod, the iPad and the Macbook. The company is trying to expand its sales into China, and has opened four Apple Stores in the country. However, Apple has run into some legal issues regarding the use of the name "iPad." A Chinese company, Proview Technology, owns the trademark to the name in China and the two companies have been battling over the rights to the name since 2006. A December 2011 Chinese court decision rejected Apple's claim that Proview was infringing on Apple's ...

While there is no quick fix to improving a bad credit score, there are steps that savvy consumers can take to improve their credit scores after filing bankruptcy. The first step is to review a copy of the credit report and make sure that any debts previously paid off or discharged in the bankruptcy are correctly indicated as such on the credit report. Otherwise, the amounts will continue to show up as delinquent, keeping the credit score down. Consumers should also try to establish new credit. At first, it may not be easy to get a traditional credit card, but obtaining ...

A lawsuit filed by Kleiner Partner Ellen Pao is continuing to draw attention to discrimination allegations within technology businesses located in Silicon Valley. Silicon Valley, popular for its innovations in the technology industry, is facing heat as the lawsuit fuels a debate on the presence of sexism throughout the technology industry, according to Reuters. Kleiner, a venture capital firm, is known for backing big names including Amazon.com and browser company Netscape. The firm not only denies the presence of discrimination within the company but also claims that ...

A recent drunk driving accident resulted in the death of an 18-year-old Caney Creek High School senior. The young woman was driving along the Sam Houston Parkway when another vehicle, allegedly driving at speeds over 130 mph by an intoxicated Erasmo Ramirez, collided with her pickup truck. The force of the collision caused the bed to separate from the cab of the truck and become airborne. The truck bed ultimately landed on and crushed the cab. The high school senior suffered serious injuries from the drunk driving accident and died the next morning. Mr. Ramirez was charged ...

Companies rise and fall based on the strength and reliability of their business dealings. In the past, many business owners created obligations and made promises based on a handshake. Now, deal-making is much more complicated. With every transaction, there is still an element of trust when dealing with others -- an assumption that the other party is telling the truth. Unfortunately, that assumption may be unreliable, even when the parties have a contract laying out each other's responsibilities and duties. If one party to a contract fails to hold up his or her part ...