Dwarf planet Makemake examined for the first time

An artist's impression shows the rocky world, distant from the Sun and lacking any obvious atmosphere

Astronomers have obtained an important first look at the dwarf planet Makemake - finding it has no atmosphere.

One of five such dwarfs in our Solar System including former planet Pluto, Makemake had until now eluded study.
But in April 2011, it passed between the Earth and a distant star, and astronomers used seven telescopes to study how the star's light was changed.
A report in Nature outlines how they unpicked Makemake's size, lack of atmosphere, and even its density.
Few battles in the astronomy community are as fierce as the one surrounding the demotion of the planet Pluto from planet status in 2006 to one of what the International Astronomical Union then dubbed "dwarf planets".
Pluto shares the category with four other little worlds: Ceres, Haumea, Eris and Makemake.

Dwarf planets

• Pluto, Ceres and Eris were the first three bodies to be recognised as dwarf planets
• Unlike planets, dwarfs lack the gravitational muscle needed to clear their orbits of other astronomical objects
• Pluto was demoted to a dwarf planet in 2006 when a similar body, Eris, was found nearby
• Hundreds more dwarfs like Pluto might live in the Kuiper Belt, a region of icy objects beyond the orbit of Neptune, but they are hard to find

• Find out how Tombaugh discovered Pluto orbiting over 3.5 billion miles away

Ceres, as the only inner Solar System dwarf, has been analysed directly with telescopes.

The far more distant Eris and Haumea have both been analysed separately in the same kind of "occultation" that has now given clues as to Makemake's makeup.
Haumea was shown to be icy like Pluto, while Eris added to Pluto's indignities by ousting it as the largest dwarf.
Now Makemake has come under scrutiny by an international team led by Jose Luis Ortiz of the the Andalucian Institute of Astrophysics in Spain, making use of seven different telescopes across Brazil and Chile.
They watched as the dwarf planet blocked the light of distant star Nomad 1181-0235723, only for about one minute.
The dwarf was known to be about two-thirds the size of Pluto, but the team put the measurement on a firmer footing, measuring it to be not quite spherical - about 1,430km across in one direction and 1,500km across the other.
The team estimates that Makemake has a density of 1.7 grams per cubic centimetre (similar to that of Pluto, but still less than a third that of Earth) - but the key test was that of the dwarf planet's atmosphere.
"As Makemake passed in front of the star and blocked it out, the star disappeared and reappeared very abruptly, rather than fading and brightening gradually," said Dr Ortiz.
"This means that the little dwarf planet has no significant atmosphere. It was thought that Makemake had a good chance of having developed an atmosphere - that it has no sign of one at all shows just how much we have yet to learn about these mysterious bodies.
"Finding out about Makemake's properties for the first time is a big step forward in our study of the select club of icy dwarf planets."

Early death link to muscle power

The findings do not mean that muscle building will make you live longer, experts caution

How muscular you are as a teenager may predict how long you live, at least if you are a man.

Swedish experts who tracked more than a million teenage boys for 24 years found those with low muscle strength - weaker leg and arm muscles and a limp grip - were at increased risk of early death.
The team behind the BMJ study believe muscle strength reflects general fitness, which would explain the link.
Experts stress the findings do not mean muscle building makes you live longer.
The effect of poor muscular fitness in those tracked was similar to well established risk factors for early death, such as obesity and high blood pressure.

“Start Quote

The benefits of being physically active at any age are well established”

British Heart Foundation

When the researchers took into account these better known risk factors, they found the link between early death and muscle power remained.

Thin and fat men alike fared worse in terms of life expectancy if they had weaker than average muscles, while more burly men had better survival odds even if they were overweight.
Over the course of the study, 26,145 (2.3%) of the men died. The leading single cause of death was accidental injury, followed by suicide, cancer, heart disease and stroke.
A third of the deaths were due to other causes and the researchers grouped these together for their calculations.
The teenagers who scored above average on muscular strength at the start of the study had a 20-35% lower risk of early death from any cause and also from cardiovascular diseases.
They also had a 20-30% lower risk of early death from suicide and were up to 65% less likely to have any psychiatric diagnosis, such as schizophrenia or depression.
In comparison, the 16- to 19-year-olds with the lowest level of muscular strength had the highest risk of dying before they reached their mid-50s.
The teenagers, who were all conscripts to the Swedish military, were asked to grip and to do some leg curls and arm push ups against resistance to measure muscle strength.
A spokeswoman for the British Heart Foundation said: "The benefits of being physically active at any age are well established with studies showing it can prevent children from developing diseases later on in life, as well as improving their concentration at school, their overall mental health and well-being."
Stephen Evans, professor of pharmacoepidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said while there was good evidence exercise was beneficial for health, the study did not show doing more exercise would necessarily prolong your life.
And encouraging people to do more regular physical activity could be a challenge, he added.
"Sadly the trials of an intervention to increase exercise have not shown notable benefits, though that does not discourage me and many others from exercising," Prof Evans said.

Gaza crisis: Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement holds

A ceasefire between Israel and the Islamist Hamas movement that runs the Gaza Strip appeared to be holding on Thursday.

Israel radio said some rockets had been fired from Gaza, but there was no sign of an Israeli response.
Overnight, thousands of Gaza residents poured on to the streets to celebrate, waving flags and setting off fireworks.
The UN Security Council has called on Israel and Hamas to uphold the agreement, brokered by Egypt.
Overnight, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said it had arrested 55 "terror operatives" in the West Bank, including some at a senior level, in an effort to "restore calm".
There have been a number of protests in the West Bank in the past week against Israel's Pillar of Defence operation, with some protesters clashing with Israeli soldiers.
'Underlying issues' In its first statement since the current flare-up began, the Security Council also commended Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi and others involved in the diplomatic effort.

Ceasefire deal

• Israel to end all hostilities on Gaza Strip by sea, land and air, including incursions and the targeting of individuals
• All Palestinian factions in Gaza to stop all hostilities against Israel, including rocket and border attacks
• Within 24 hours of ceasefire, Gaza Strip crossings to be opened allowing free movement of people and goods
• Egypt to receive assurances from both sides that they will abide by the deal, and will follow up any reports its has been broken

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who has been meeting regional leaders during the conflict, welcomed the ceasefire and said it was urgent that humanitarian aid be delivered to Gaza.

"We are all aware that there are many details that must be solidified for a broad, durable ceasefire to take firm hold over the longer term," he said.
"It is imperative that both sides stick to the ceasefire in order to allow these underlying issues to be addressed."
Five Israelis and more than 150 Palestinians have died since the outbreak of violence began last week.
The Israeli military said three rockets had been fired from Gaza since the ceasefire came into effect, two of which were shot down by the Iron Dome defence system. It said there had been no fire in either direction since midnight.
The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Jerusalem says that in the early stages of the ceasefire, success will be measured from minute to minute.
The more time that passes without rocket fire from Gaza or an air raid from Israel, the more confident civilians on both sides will feel, he adds.
Under the deal, Israel has agreed to end all hostilities and targeted killings, while all Palestinian factions will have to stop firing rockets into Israel and staging border attacks.
Israel must also begin talks about opening Gaza's border crossings and easing restrictions on the movement of people and goods.
Ecstatic celebrations The truce was announced in Cairo on Wednesday by Egyptian Foreign Minister Kamel Amr.

Ban Ki-moon: "Our focus must be on ensuring the ceasefire holds"

Alongside him was US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who had taken part in the negotiations, first in Jerusalem and later in Cairo.
The announcement set off ecstatic celebrations in Gaza, where residents who had spent days sheltering from air strikes took to the streets.
The BBC's Jon Donnison in Gaza City says the city was transformed as people flooded into the streets, many of them firing weapons into the air.
But the truce is essentially a maintaining of the status quo, our correspondent adds, and it is hard to see either side sticking to it unless there are further talks and a broader peace plans.
Hamas's exiled political leader Khaled Meshaal said Israel's offensive had "failed" and that the deal met Hamas's main demands.
All the crossings into Gaza would re-open, including those with Egypt, Mr Meshaal said.
In Gaza itself, Hamas spokesman Ihab Hussein hailed the truce as a victory.
"These people made this victory by their patience, by the blood of our people," he said.
"They (the Israelis) will open the borders, they will stop assassinating and killing our people. We will live in calm and in a peace[ful] situation."

Some residents in the southern Israeli town of Kiryat Malachi denounced the truce

In Israel, however, small protests were held in communities such as the southern town of Kiryat Malachi, where three people were killed by a Gaza rocket during the conflict, army radio said.
Protesters said the military should have hit Hamas harder and some banners denounced "agreements with terrorists".
Despite the ceasefire, Israeli schools within 40km of the Gaza Strip were being kept closed on Thursday as a precaution, the military said.
Israel says it targeted 1,500 "terror sites" during Operation Pillar of Defence.
It says its targets included 30 senior militants, 980 underground rocket launchers and 140 smuggling tunnels.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that, for the first time, militants in Gaza had fired long-range rockets, such as the Fajr-5, toward Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
A statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had agreed to a US suggestion "to give a chance to Egypt's proposal for a ceasefire and so give an opportunity to stabilise the situation and calm it before there will be need to apply greater force".
Violence continued right up to the 21:00 (19:00 GMT) ceasefire deadline. During the day, a bomb exploded on a bus in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, wounding several people. At least 13 people died in Gaza on Wednesday.
Israel launched its offensive, which it says was aimed at ending rocket fire from Gaza, with the killing of a Hamas military leader.

Study Finds Type 2 Diabetes Drugs And Pancreatic Cancer Association

According to a study, two newer drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes could be linked to a significantly increased risk of developing pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, and one could also be linked to an increased risk of thyroid cancer.
Researchers examined the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s database for adverse events reported between 2004 and 2009 among patients using the type 2 diabetes drugs sitagliptin and exenatide. They found a six-fold increase in the odds ratio for reported cases of pancreatitis with these drugs, compared with four other diabetes therapies they used as controls. They also found that patients who took the two type 2 diabetes drugs were more likely to have developed pancreatic cancer than those who were treated with the other therapies.
“We undertook these studies because several studies in animal models by several investigators had suggested that this form of therapy may have unintended actions to promote growth of the ducts (tubes) in the pancreatic gland that convey digestive juices from the pancreas to the gut,” said study co-author Dr. Peter Butle. “This is a concern if it happens in humans since it might be expected to increase the risk for pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. While the FDA data base has limitations, it does have advantages in being very large, openly accessible and independent from companies that market the type 2 diabetes drugs.
“Taken together the animals studies and the FDA data base analysis suggest that further work needs to be undertaken to at least rule out that this now widely available new type 2 diabetes drug class does not increase the risk of pancreatic cancer,” added Butler.
Sitagliptin and exenatide are type 2 diabetes drugs that enhance the actions of a gut hormone known as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), which has been shown to be effective in lowering blood sugar in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Sitagliptin, marketed as Januvia by Merck & Co. Inc., works by inhibiting dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DDP-4), an enzyme that degrades GLP-1. Exenatide, manufactured by Amylin Pharmaceuticals and sold as Byetta, mimics the action of GLP-1 and resists DDP-4 degradation.
Previous research suggested there might be a link between drugs that enhance the actions of GLP-1 and pancreatitis, possibly resulting from an increase in the rate of formation of cells that line the pancreatic ducts. That research, based on studies in rats, was published in 2009 in the journal Diabetes.
In addition to the six-fold increase in reported cases of pancreatitis, the researchers also found a 2.9-fold greater rate of pancreatic cancer in patients using exenatide and a 2.7-fold higher rate of pancreatic cancer in patients on sitagliptin, compared with the other therapies. Additionally, they found a statistically significant increase in the risk of thyroid cancer among the exenatide group, but not among the sitagliptin group.
The FDA data did not indicate links between the two type 2 diabetes drugs and any other form of cancer.
The researchers caution that the FDA’s adverse events database “is not the ideal mechanism to compare adverse event rates between type 2 diabetes drugs,” given its known limitations, such as incomplete data and reporting biases. They stress that more study is needed.

Blood Pressure Diets

Blood pressure diets follow all the latest thinking on general good nutrition, with a few added ingredients thrown in that are particularly relevant to hypertension, or high blood pressure.Before we get on to recommendations for blood pressure diets, here is a quick reminder of what are considered normal blood pressure levels. The ideal is 120/80. Systolic pressure, the 120, is the pressure when the heart is pumping blood from the ventricle into the veins. Diastolic pressure, the 80 in this example, is the resting time between pumping actions. For more information, see our article blood pressure ranges. You will see there that, as we age, the normal range for blood pressure rises. 120/80 is the ideal pressure for the age group 20 to 40.
If your doctor has measured your blood pressure and it is higher than normal for your age and fitness levels, he will probably have suggested you to look at the recommended blood pressure diets.
The good news is that blood pressure diets will help you lose weight and gain overall fitness and health whilst at the same time lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
This is a general reference guide to blood pressure diets before we get down to the specific additional recommendations for high blood pressure diets which distinguish them from all round good nutrition.
1.    When eating dairy and animal foods, favour those low in cholesterol, such as skimmed milk, skinless chicken and turkey, fish rich in omega 3 oils such as salmon, mackerel and herring.
2.    Seeds and nuts in moderation. Too much will contribute to weight gain and weight gain in turn contributes to high blood pressure. A handful a day is generally considered enough.
3.    Wholegrain cereals are just one food group which contain a key ingredient recommended in blood pressure diets; potassium. Whole wheat bread, whole grain muesli, but watch the sugar content, and other whole grains like brown rice and quinoa, also full of protein, are all recommended.
4.    Oat bran is a wonder food which lowers cholesterol. It is worth including it in any diet. Sprinkle it on other cereal, add it to soups, get creative with this dietary super food.
5.    Fresh fruit and green vegetables. The sky is more or less the limit here. The recommended minimum is five portions of different green vegetables per day. A general guideline is that a portion is about the size of your fist.
6.    Include potatoes and other starchy vegetables in your blood pressure diets for general good health but they do not count as one of your five portions.
7.    Avocados, again in moderation.
8.    Fruit, at least five servings a day. One variety of fruit juice counts as one portion whether you drink a glass or a gallon.
So far, you can plan your blood pressure diets menu as you would in any other healthy diet plan. Now for what makes blood pressure diets different from other healthy eating.

• Limit alcohol consumption, particularly whilst you are trying to reduce your blood pressure. Alcohol raises blood pressure and is not recommended for blood pressure diets.
• Reduce Salt. This is the main recommendation for all blood pressure diets. Salt is not only that which you sprinkle on your potatoes. It is hidden in most ready prepared meals, sauces, bread, virtually anything you buy pre-prepared contains hidden salt. Read labels. Sometimes it is not listed as salt but as sodium. The recommended daily amount of salt in blood pressure diets is a maximum of 6 grams. One level teaspoon usually contains five grams.
• If a label lists sodium and not salt, you can reckon that 1g sodium is equal to 2.5g salt.
• If you are eating ready prepared foods, favour those which contain 0.3g salt per 100g food.
• Foods high in potassium help to lower blood pressure and are favoured in blood pressure diets provided there is no underlying kidney disease. If you suffer from kidney disease, you will need guidance from your doctor about whether these foods should be included in blood pressure diets.
• Potassium rich foods include bananas, citrus fruit, dried apricots and many of the other foods recommended above in the general diet guidelines.