A 6


■ ELEMENT FROM A1


Arsenic possibly sixth element for life – study


Administration (NASA) and published on Thursday in the journal Science.


The findings add a new dimension to what biologists consider the necessary elements for life, currently viewed as six elements: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur. “What we’ve found is a microbe doing something new—building parts of itself out of arsenic,” said scientist Felisa Wolfe-Simon, a fellow in NASA’s astrobiology program who made the groundbreaking discovery at Mono Lake in eastern California. “There’s an organism on Earth doing something different,” said Wolfe-Simon. “We’ve cracked open the door to what’s possible for life elsewhere in the universe. And that’s profound.” Ariel Anbar, a co-author of the


study, explained how Wolfe- Simon was able to get the bacteria known as strain GFAJ-1 of the Halomonadaceae family of Gamoproteobacteria to grow under extreme toxic conditions in the laboratory. “She takes this sediment, puts it


■ CLUB FROM A1 President ready to join ‘cold’ club


[For now, yes],” President Aquino replied when asked if he will be considered a member of the so- called “Samahan ng mga Taong Malalamig ang Pasko [Association of People Spending a Cold Christ- mas]” this year.


The term, which is frequently used in jest, refers to groups of single peo- ple who expect to spend Christmas without a romantic partner. After breaking up with his girl- friend of two years, former Councilor Shalani Soledad of


Valenzuela City, the 50-year-old President reportedly went on dates. Recently, he was photographed with what rumors say is the new “ap- ple of his eye,” Deutsche Bank stock- broker Len Lopez. Mr. Aquino, however, said that he sees nothing wrong if he goes on a date, adding that he is a “friendly” person. “Ako po ay napaka-friendly na tao. Obligasyon ko po na maging friendly sa lahat [I am a very friendly person. It is my obligation to be friendly


with everyone],” he told reporters. “Alam niyo . . . kaya naman hinihingi


ko [na] baka puwedeng itira na sa akin, wala naman akong ginagawang masama, [You know .


. . that’s why


I ask that, perhaps, it’s possible that you leave that [part of my life] to me, I’m not doing anything wrong,” the President said. Regarding a different kind of


“cold,” he reported that his cold that he contracted on Thursday was not that serious, and that it was not af- fecting his work.


in a bottle essentially where there is lots of arsenic and very little phosphorus, and she does it over and over so only organisms that are going to be happy in that environment survive,” Anbar said. “The organism came from


nature,” added the scientist at Arizona State University’s School of Earth and Space Exploration. “It is a known bacteria. It is not a brand- new bug but nobody realized it could do this.” Scientists have known for some time that some microbes can use arsenic for energy, much like humans do with oxygen or food. “The way I like to put it is they


smoke it but they don’t inhale it,” said Paul Davies, a co-author of the paper and British-born cosmologist at Arizona State University. “So the big question we all


wanted to know was where has the arsenic gone? Is the arsenic really in their innards? “Eventually, bit by bit, the


evidence accumulated that indeed the arsenic was in the DNA, the proteins, the lipid membranes and the metabolites, so it was everywhere where it is important,” Davies added.


news The Manila Times SATURDAY


A few years ago, Wolfe-Simon, Anbar and Davies began discussing the idea that different life forms could exist on Earth but by biological rules unlike ours, a notion known informally by scientists as “weird life.”


Arsenic as life base The trio published in 2009 their


hypothesis that arsenic, which is directly below phosphorus on the periodic table, could substitute for phosphorus in Earth life forms. “We conjectured that maybe life


started via the arsenic route and phosphorus was the later adaptation,” said Davies, noting that they still are not sure which came first, or if this bacteria could be “like a living fossil, a hangover from an earlier arsenic epoch.” But the discovery has made him think about all the forms of life out there that scientists may have missed. “This is going to open up a whole new line of inquiry. First of all, this can’t be the only arsenic organism on the planet, there is going to a be lot more, so this is a whole new domain of microbiology that it represents,” Davies said. “Who knows what else is out there if we take a harder look?” he added.


The findings, leaked early in a


vague but intriguing announcement by NASA that mentioned “extraterrestrial life,”


D e cember 4, 2010


lit up the blogosphere and stunned many scientists. Arizona State University


professor James Elser said that he has spent years telling students that phosphorus was a necessary part of DNA. “The idea that I am sitting here


today discussing the idea that this is not true is shocking,” said Elser, a panelist at a NASA press conference on the discovery. Caleb Scharf, a Columbia


University astrobiologist, told The New York Times that he was amazed. “It’s like if you or I morphed into fully functioning cyborgs after being thrown into a room of electronic scrap with nothing to eat,” he said.


NASA has conducted numerous probes at eastern California’s Mono Lake, an unusually salty body of water with high arsenic and mineral levels, as it is likely to reflect conditions under which early life evolved on Earth, or perhaps Mars. “Sometimes you think something is not going to work, but then you go looking for it and sometimes you may find it,” Anbar said. “And then you realize, oh, I


didn’t understand things quite as well as I thought I did before. And that happens all the time in science. That’s part of what makes it fun,” he added.


■ PRESIDENT FROM A1 Ex-investment banker


Pascual earlier told various consul- tations that he aims to upgrade UP’s standing in the global university rankings through the improvement of the university’s research capabili- ties, and render it more responsive to the changing demands of a glo- balized society.


“UP should pursue its teaching, research and extension service func- tions not only within the framework of its many academic disciplines but more so in the context of national development needs that are ever- changing and becoming increas- ingly complex,” he said.


“UP has a historic commitment of service to the Filipino nation. In the 21st century, this must include efforts to help the country become a significant and positive player in global society,” Pascual added. The new UP president, moreover,


vowed to enhance the university’s re- search capabilities, democratize admis- sion to the school and engage in part- nerships with the government and pri- vate enterprises, as well as foreign in- stitutions to realize the character of UP as the country’s national university. Despite his aim to institute meas- ures for the university to generate its own income through its land assets, Pascual said that he believes that funding the university is still the mandate of the government. “The commitment of the national


government to underwrite the cost of a UP education is critical. With- out adequate public funding, it will be difficult to assure that tuition increases can be held in check in- definitely. UP must be a university where students earn their degrees as


AFP


“Kapag changing weather, ganun talaga ako [I’m like that whenever the weather changes]. My sinusitis gets triggered by it [but] other than that, hindi 100 percent pero hindi naman ako malubha na kailangan itakbo ako sa ospital [it’s not 100 per- cent, but not too serious to the point I need to be rushed to the hospital],” Mr. Aquino said. On Friday, he attended the recog- nition ceremony for Task Force Kapatid-Typhoon Juan, held at the Tarlac Electric Cooperative Inc. audi- torium in his home province of Tarlac. In his speech, the President hailed


the volunteerism of the electric co- operatives that worked to restore electricity in typhoon-ravaged prov- inces of Northern Luzon in October.


sports


Russia, Qatar World Cup bid wins surprise football fans


RUSSIA and the tiny Gulf state of Qatar scored stunning victories in the battle for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups here Thursday after an acrimonious bidding war tainted by allegations of corruption. In a historic conclusion to two


years of frenzied lobbying, world football chief Sepp Blatter revealed the surprise winners following a se- cret ballot of 22 FIFA executive com- mittee members in Zurich. The announcement means the


World Cup will be staged in two countries which have never hosted the event before following the 2014 tournament in Brazil. Russia prevailed in the 2018 race after upsetting England—who were knocked out in the first round of voting after mustering a mere two votes—and joint bids from Spain/Portugal and Belgium/ the Netherlands.


The outcome represented an un- expected comeback for Russia, whose campaign had believed to be


■ PLANET FROM A8 Captain Planet the big leagues. While the Clippers have the


worst record in the league as of this writing (4-15), they recently bested the top team in the NBA. Blake Griffin dropped 31 points and grabbed 13 rebounds while facing off versus one of the pre- mier big men in the league in Tim Duncan. This broke the Clippers’ 18-game losing streak against the Spurs and showed us a glimpse of how good this team can become. It is still very early in the season and the Clips can still recover from their poor start. Once Chris Kaman and Randy


Foye get healthy from injuries, Grif- fin may even be more effective since defenses will no longer focus on just stopping him. The return of Baron Davis in the lineup will give him opportunities to pick his spots on the floor.


If Griffin can remain healthy


throughout the season and he starts to jell with his teammates, the playoffs may not be too far away. His stellar play and “star” power is great for a franchise that has been wallow- ing at the bottom of the league for far too long. This is a team that has only been to the playoffs four times in the past 20 years. They have also had bad luck in their NBA draft se- lections namely Danny Manning and Michael Olowokandi. No doubt about it. The Clippers


have the talent to finally break- through this season and erase the stigma of being the “other” team in Los Angeles. And it all rests on Cap- tain Planet’s shoulders.


SIDELINES. During his high school playing days, Griffin led his team to four state championships and he was called by another nick- name—Blake “The Snake.”


raffyrledesma@yahoo.com


in trouble after Prime Minister Vladimir Putin declined to join the lobbying effort in Switzerland. Putin, however, jetted into Zu- rich on Thursday to congratulate FIFA and the Russian bid team on the result. “A 2018 World Cup will be up to the highest standards, new modern stadiums will be built in time and to perfection: we are eager to do our best for the comfort and safety of our guests,” Putin said. “We are honored by your deci- sion. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Soccer is popular all over the world especially in Russia.” But the shock of the day came in


the 2022 race, where Qatar beat off stiff competition from the United States, Australia and Asian rivals South Korea and Japan in a remark- able result. Qatar 2022 bid President Mo- hammed bin Hamad Al-Thani said his country’s victory had de- fied the odds.


Ginebra Kings tame Powerade Tigers


BARANGAY Ginebra emerged with a big fourth quarter surge beating Powerade Tigers, 84-81, Friday in the 36th Philippine Basketball Associa- tion (PBA) All-Filipino Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome. Ronald Tubid fired 12 points in the Kings mighty run which enabled them to regain the lead after falling behind by 10 points early in the second period. Tubid’s sudden explosion did not


only save the day for the Kings but also secured their ninth win in 12 games and remain in solo second going to the final stretch of the elimination phase. The game was close all throughout,


which resulted to several deadlocks and many lead changes as the Tigers refused to bow down easily despite the harrowing 81-83 score with only 26.4


seconds remaining. But Tubid, a 16th overall pick by Shell in 2003 completed a pair of charity off a foul by Rob Reyes to stretch the gap, 84-81. The Tigers have still enough chance to tie the knot but Gary David missed a hurried jumper that allowed the Kings to prove their mastery over the Tigers, whom they crushed 82- 79 in their first encounter in Batangas City on October 9. The 6’1” guard Tubid went on to


topscore for the Kings with 21 points, while Wellie Miller finished with 15 and nine from Mike Cortez. Gary David led the Tigers, who


dropped to 3-10 slate, with 15 points, Chico Lanete added 14 and 13 each from Dennis Espino and Eddie Laure. Meanwhile, Talk ‘N Text tries again to


catch up in the race for the “twice-to- beat” advantage when it faces dangerous Rain or Shine Saturday in the PBA-Phoenix on Tour in Digos, Davao del Norte. This will be the Tropang Texters and


Elasto Painters second encounter with coach Caloy Garcia’s team escaping with a slim 95-93 win on October 20. The scores: Ginebra 84—Tubid 21, Miller 15,


Cortez 9, Wilson 8, Menk 8, Hatfield 6, Cruz 5, Villanueva 5, Helterbrand 5, Mamaril 2, Aquino 0. Powerade 81—David 15, Lanete


14, Laure 13, Espino 13, Macapagal 8, Gonzales 5, Antonio 5, Anthony 4, Reyes 4, Enrile 0, Calimag 0, Ritualo 0, Mendoza 0. Quarters: 30-19, 41-40, 61-66, 84-81 FRANK CALAPRE


AFP Woods takes lead at World Challenge


TOURNAMENT-HOST Tiger Woods fired a seven-under par 65 at the World Challenge on Thursday as he bids to cap a tough year with a mo- rale-building victory. Woods, whose 2010 travails on and off the golf course have been well documented, birdied six of his first 11 holes and moved as low as eight-under before a bogey at the 18th, where he was in the trees off the tee.


Despite that blip, Woods still found himself in sole possession of a tournament lead for the first time


■ SLUMP FROM A8 Patriots labor to end slump “It’s going to be another tough


battle for us but we’re used to playing with one import. All we have to do is raise our defensive pressure,” said coach Louie Alas whose Patriots would be playing with just one import following the sacking of 6’11” Donald Little for an unimpressive performance. Team manager Erick Arejola said


they are still looking for Little’s replacement as the race for the Top 2 places continues to heat up. “We have yet to find one but we


hope to play with renewed vigor this time. We’re hoping that the loss of Little would further inspire our players especially our big men, to deliver,” said Arejola.


FRANK CALAPRE


since he won the 2009 Australian Masters, and for the first time in America since the midpoint of the 2009 US PGA Tour Championship. “I played good today,” said


Woods, who hit all but two greens in regulation and putted for eagle four times. “I really striped it, hit a lot of good shots. “It’s not too often you can say I shot 65 and only made one putt, but that’s kind of what I did today. I only made one putt and it was on nine. The rest were either two-putts or kick- ins. It was a good ball-striking day.”


Woods was one stroke in front of US Open champion Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy. At this time last year, he was in self-imposed exile as revelations of marital infidelity made headlines. The scandal eventually ended his marriage, and in his abbreviated 2010 season Woods also struggled to get to grips with swing changes made with Canadian coach Sean Foley. His only other appearance atop a leaderboard this year was a share of the first-round lead at The Barclays. AFP


■ TITLE FROM A8 Arcilla defends PCA title


In the ladies division, with five- time titlist Czarina Mae Arevalo miss- ing the action, expect the other title contenders to dish out their A-Game. The Patrimonio sisters—Anna Clarice and Anna Christine—lead the pack with veterans Michelle Pang, Marinel Rudas and Trudy Amoranto closely behind. Also joining the slugfest are Filipino-Americans Mariel Ante and Desirae Krawcyk.


A total of P500,000 is up for grabs in the annual event which is also sup- ported by Accel, Dunlop, PVL, Whirl- pool, Coca Cola, San Miguel, Lizardo Tennis Academy, Tennis Athletes Un- limited, Babolat, Wilson, Philippine Star, Prudential Life, Carlo Rossi, Bayan ng San Jose Occidental Mindoro, Alagang Cebuana Plus, Just Jewels, Le Soleil de Boracay, Phiten and Pera Padala.


EMIL C. NOGUERA


»NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE RESULTS AND STANDINGS


Philadelphia 34 Houston24 STANDINGS


AMERICAN CONFERENCE WLT PCT PF PA


AAFC East Division NY Jets


New England 9 2 0 .818 334 266 Miami Buffalo


9 2 0 .818 264 187 6 5 0 .545 205 225


2 9 0 .182 229 295


AFC North Division Baltimore


8 3 0 .727 250 188


Pittsburgh 8 3 0 .727 254 175 Cleveland 4 7 0 .364 216 229 Cincinnati 2 9 0 .182 225 288


AFC South Division Jacksonville 6 5 0 .545 240 294 Indianapolis 6 5 0 .545 282 252 Tennessee 5 6 0 .455 257 218 Houston 5 7 0 .455 288 321


AFC West Division Kansas City 7 4 0 .636 285 231 San Diego 6 5 0 .545 310 225 Oakland 5 6 0 .455 255 256 Denver


3 8 0 .273 250 323


NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE WLT PCT PF PA


NFC East Division Philadelphia 8 4 0 .636 344 281 NY Giants 7 4 0 .636 277 240 Washington 5 6 0 .455 215 262 Dallas


■ BIRTHDAY FROM A1 Floyd Jr. out of ‘hit list’


decide if he wants to fight Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez for a third time or face either US veteran Shane Mosley or unbeaten Haitian-American welterweight Andre Berto. PacMan, Roach and Arum will gather in the Philippines for Pacquiao’s birthday bash on December 17 and consider the matter, with the fighter and Filipino congressman having the final say. Arum would like the name recognition


value offered by a fight against Mosley, 46-6 with one draw and 39 knockouts. But Mosley, 39, was overwhelmed by


Mayweather in a unanimous decision loss in May and struggled to a draw against


countryman Sergio Mora in September. Berto, 27, has less of a following but


at 27-0 with 20 knockouts could offer the most compelling fight. Completing a trilogy against


lightweight champion Marquez could be enticing after Pacquiao settled for a draw in their 2004 meeting and won by split decision in 2008. Marquez also lost to Mayweather but has defended his lightweight title twice since. But a Marquez fight would mean a


deal coming together between bitter rival promoters Arum and Richard Schaefer, also on opposite sides in failed Mayweather talks.


AFP


‘Iskolar ng Bayan’ [Scholar of the People] regardless of the economic status of their family,” Pascual said in an earlier statement.


Extensive experience Prior to pioneering investment bank-


ing in the Philippines, holding senior executive positions in Bancom Devel- opment Corp., Philippine Pacific Capi- tal (now RCBC Capital) and First Metro Investment in the 1970s, he served as an instructor of Chemistry in UP. Pascual also spent nine years as a professor of Finance at the Asian In- stitute of Management. Working for the ADB, he had long


advocated public-private partnerships as a developmental tool in a devel- oping country such as the Philippines. In the months leading to the May


2010 automated elections, Pascual also served as lead convenor of the Automated Election System Watch, an election watchdog.


He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree and a master’s degree in Business Administration from UP. Pascual triumphed over top con- tenders for the UP presidency, besting UP Diliman Chancellor Sergio Cao, columnist and constitu- tionalist Raul Pangalangan and His- tory professor Ma. Serena Diokno. Other contenders for the position


were Consolacion Alaras, Patrick Alain Azanza, Leonor Briones, Esperanza Cabral, Benjamin Diokno, Virginia Teodosio and Luis Rey Velasco. Selection of the new UP president


was originally scheduled on November 19 but was postponed to December 3 to resolve the eligibility of the Student Regent to sit in the board and vote.


3 8 0 .273 256 301


NFC North Division Chicago 8 3 0 .727 222 172 Green Bay 7 4 0 .636 269 166 Minnesota 4 7 0 .364 189 239 Detroit


2 9 0 .182 258 282


NFC South Division Atlanta


9 2 0 .818 276 209


New Orleans 8 3 0 .727 265 197 Tampa Bay 7 4 0 .636 213 223 Carolina 1 10 0 .091 140 276


NFC West Division Seattle


5 6 0 .455 209 275


St. Louis 5 6 0 .455 213 231 San Francisco 4 7 0 .364 187 225 Arizona


3 8 0 .273 194 319 AFP


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