She is the oldest primate fossil ever found. When Ida died she weighed a bit more than a pound and was only 9 months old. This little primate has a lot of scientists jumping. They have already made a documentary and book written on her. The images of the fossil are breathtaking. Take a look at graphics and video.

IDA'S PLACE IN EVOLUTION
See how Ida relates to other primates and human evolution.

IDA IN 3-D
View a model of Ida's skeleton spin in space.

FULL-PAGE GRAPHIC
Download this in-depth graphic I did on Ida, packed with info. Enjoy.

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It is refreshing to see democracy alive and kicking in Iran — a country known for its ultra-strict religious political structure. The aftermath of the June 12 elections is really taking a toll on Iran's government (and I'm not just talking about its image).

Reading between the lines, a major (yet unspoken) concern is over the country's stability and the safety of Iran's nuclear and missile facilities.

To understand the scope of the situation, one must brush up on Iranian history first. Here are a couple of wire graphics to help you out. And then you can check out my News Illustrated page (coming out Sunday) to understand the political hierarchy and why there is growing international concern.

If you want more, the New York Times has a nice page filled with stories and summaries that I used as reference. Or you can visit Global Security or the Federation of American Scientists to get more information about Iran's nuclear and missile programs.

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Have you ever gazed into the sky and wondered if there were actually other planets like ours in this huge galaxy? It is a fun question to ponder, a mystery beyond our imagination.

Well that mystery might become reality a couple of years from now. NASA's Kepler satellite is out in space right this moment staring down 100,000 stars for the next 3.5 years in search of Earth-like planets.

Kepler will look for tiny changes in a stars brightness when a planet crosses in front of the star. The changes will be measured by scientist to see if the planet is Earth-like.

If everything goes well, scientist expect to find at least 50 Earth-like planets within the search area and the mystery question of whether there are other planets like ours in space may have an answer!

Make sure you read this Sunday's News Illustrated page to learn more about Kepler.

Here is a video about the Kepler mission:

Here is a animation of how it works:

Photos of Kepler can be found at http://www.ballaerospace.com/gallery/kepler/gallery14.htm

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Take quick action when fig whitefly hits your neighborhood.
Don't hesitate or it may be too late. Be ready with solid information.

Watch a video on pesticide use and application, for the homeowner.

For alternatives to ficus download a list of ornamental plants. List gives size; plants tolerance to drought, salt and cold; if they bear fruit and description.

A full-page graphic by the Sun Sentinel is also packed with information.

More information is also available from the Florida Division of Plant Industry.

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Ready for the switch to digital TV? If you need to buy a converter box or need help hooking one up, download our News Illustrated page that you see below.

It explains the difference between analog and digital broadcasting, how converter boxes work and how to hook them up.

You can still apply for a coupon for $40 off a digital-to-analog converter box. But be warned, it typically takes nine business days to process the request and mail out the coupons.

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New federal standards prompted by Hurricane Katrina's flooding of New Orleans will likely require costly repairs of South Florida's vast system of levees. That includes the East Coast Protection Levee that keeps the Everglades from flooding Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties.

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Mosquitoes can be a real pain in South Florida. Look to one of our News Illustrated pages to help keep mosquitoes at bay, and summertime more enjoyable. The graphic includes information on:

• Mosquito repellents
• How to mosquito-proof your home
• Information on a powered bug trap, foggers & sprayers, insect zappers, ultrasound devices and citronella candles
• Tidbits on the mosquito

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With the recent news of two young girls passing from carbon monoxide, I thought it would be helpful to post a graphic with preventive tips.

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Recent visits of a bear in Weston, Florida has neighbors concerned. It seems the young bear is looking for new territory. Officials will use a trap like the one below to safely nab the critter. If they catch the bear, it will be taken to some place like Big Cypress National Preserve or Picayune Strand State Forest.

Continue reading "Bear alert: Recent bear visits alarms neighbors" »

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So now that Gov. Charlie Crist has declared a state of emergency thanks to all the recent fires, rain dances may be necessary if conditions don't improve in South Florida or the rest of the state. I guess it's good the rainy (and hurricane) season are just a couple of weeks away, but who knows how much rainfall we'll get to improve our drought.

This map shows how many fires have occurred in Florida since January 1. The red flame icons indicate how many have burned since Saturday, May 9. Why May 9 you ask? We thought a week's worth of fires would be relevant to show you why there had been interstate closures in recent days.

I also made larger maps of the Naples and Palm Beach County areas, so you can see clearly how many fires we've had lately. Remember the Big Cypress fire? Check out its size and see why I-75 was shut down for so long.

If you're interested in seeing the latest conditions, check out the U.S. Forestry Division's site to see how many more fires are burning in the Sunshine State.

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