Trends & Innovations - Tuesday

Milk, jellyfish can create biogas

Scientists in Japan have found a way to convert spoiled milk into biofuel. Niigata Institute of Technology researchers produced biogas by adding digested glop to rancid milk using a bioreactor. Separately, they also utilized dead jellyfish stuck in a nearby nuclear power plant's cooling system. In the summer the jellyfish smell bad, and the technology can convert the bacteria on jellyfish into methane. Plants around the world have similar jellyfish problems, and the bioreactor can solve those problems, MSNBC reported.

First-borns get more attention

A new study says first-born children get 30% more quality time with their parents from age 4 to 13 than younger kids. That amounts to 3,000 more hours of doing homework together, sharing meals and other activities. Brigham Young Univ. researchers say their study helps explain why first-borns generally have better outcomes in life, such as higher standardized test scores and higher incomes. On the plus side for younger children, parents typically spend more money on them, such as for private school.

Therapeutic cloning, known as somatic-cell nuclear transfer, can be used to treat Parkinson's disease in mice, scientists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center found. The scientists used skin cells of mice to generate missing neurons in mice that had the disease. The process was effective in treating the mice. The scientists hope the technique will lead to cures for humans.

Men working in the hospitality industry and construction are about 50% more likely to suffer from alcohol-related problems than women in the same industry, according to a study by George Washington Univ. In wholesale trade, men are almost three times more likely to have an alcohol problem than women. Men who work in public administration suffer the least from alcohol problems compared with men in other industries. This year's college graduates should expect a drop in demand for workers but also better pay, says a survey by recruiting firm Monster.com. About 59% of employers who took part in the survey said they were looking to hire '08 grads, down from 76% a year ago. But the average pay is up to $39,500 from $36,000 last year.