Illinois scientists find rare coin in Kenya

CHICAGO (AP) — Scientists from Illinois have found a rare, 600-year-old Chinese coin on the Kenyan island of Manda.

The Field Museum in Chicago announced the find Wednesday. The joint expedition was led by Chapurukha Kusimba of the museum and Sloan Williams of the University of Illinois-Chicago. Researchers say the coin proves trade existed between China and eastern Africa decades before European explorers set sail.

The coin is made of copper and silver. It has a square hole in the center so it could be worn on a belt. Scientists say it was issued by Emperor Yongle of China and his name is written on the coin.

Scientists from Kenya, Pennsylvania and Ohio also participated in the expedition. They also found human remains and other artifacts predating the coin.

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Online: http://www.fieldmuseum.org

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Down with Light Pollution: Illinois Town Prizes Its Dark Side (SPACE.com)

A small town in Illinois has become the world's third International Dark Sky Community, a place that aims to protect the quality of its dark, star-filled sky by controlling the amount of outdoor lighting.

The town of Homer Glen was designated an International Dark Sky Community on Nov. 21. The town is located 30 miles (48 kilometers) southwest of Chicago, and residents there have worked hard to promote the dark sky movement by raising awareness about the negative effects of light pollution from wasteful outdoor lighting.

The International Dark-Sky Association is a U.S.-based non-profit organization that was founded in 1988 to champion the dark sky movement. A primary goal of the organization's International Dark Sky Places program is to preserve the quality of dark skies around the world, which are valuable assets to astronomers and skywatchers.

Homer Glen's proximity to Chicago prompted officials to start education campaigns for smart lighting policy. Excessive outdoor lighting can cause what is known as sky glow above the horizon, which can reduce the quality of astronomical observations.

A group of citizens from Homer Glen started an advocacy group called the Illinois Coalition for Responsible Outdoor Lighting. Their efforts resulted in the 2010 adoption of a statewide resolution condoning responsible outdoor lighting.

Local astronomy groups in Homer Glen also organize stargazing events twice a year for roughly 250 members of the public. [Telescopes for Beginners]

But the dark sky movement is about more than just astronomy. The initiative is aimed at raising awareness of other negative effects of light pollution, including energy, health and ecological concerns.

In a ceremony in 2008 hosted by the International Dark-Sky Association and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), then-Lieutenant Governor of Illinois Pat Quinn praised Homer Glen for its "environmentally friendly" outdoor lighting policies and its promotion of Earth Hour, which is an annual global event organized by the WWF that encourages people to turn off lights and appliances for one hour to raise awareness about climate change.

"Homer Glen's dark sky ordinance conserves energy, protects wildlife, and reminds all of us of the natural beauty of a starry night," Quinn said in a statement.

Flagstaff, Ariz. was the first city to earn the International Dark Sky Community title, followed by Borrego Springs, Calif.

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Illinois scientist wins MIT inventor's prize

BOSTON | Tue Jun 14, 2011 4:52pm EDT

BOSTON (Reuters) - A University of Illinois professor whose research has found applications from cardiology to solar power to sportswear on Tuesday won the prestigious Lemelson-MIT Prize for outstanding inventor.

John Rogers, 43, professor of materials science and engineering, won the award, given annually by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Lemelson Foundation, and its $500,000 prize for his work across a number of fields.

Rogers is regarded as one of the most prolific inventors in the United States. He holds more than 80 patents, 52 of which are in active use.

The scientist credits his parents, a physicist and a poet, for encouraging his imaginative brand of thinking.

"The laws of nature aren't simply a set of parameters that constrain the behavior of the natural world but a set of tools that allow you to predict the future and engineer the world for favorable outcomes," he said.

Rogers in 2008 co-founded mc10 Inc., based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which confronts the challenge of using traditional silicon wafer-based electronics for surgical procedures.

The devices, typically rigid and flat, cannot match the soft contours of the human body. Rogers devised a way to create systems with tissue-like characteristics that are now used in cardiology and neurology to, for example, map vital organs.

Mc10 recently started a collaboration with Reebok International to create athletic apparel using flexible, stretchable electronics.

Another project of the Rogers lab is to develop tiny, low-cost digital cameras similar in size and shape to the human eye. Others are focused on viable solar power systems and even military applications.

"Rogers can move effortlessly from science to technology and to practical applications, with a unique vision for the translation of science to products," said colleague Ilesanmi Adesida, dean of engineering at the University of Illinois.

(Reporting by Ros Krasny. Edited by Peter Bohan)

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