Research shows lunar

cycle affects sleep,

levels of mood hormone

An Expedition 10 crewmember aboard the International Space Station captured this image of the full Moon. Image by: NASA. Click image to enlarge.

SO MANY FOLKS BELIEVE the full moon causes all sorts of changes in the human condition that the myths have become widely accepted as true.
There has been no scientific basis for these commonly held beliefs – until now.
A team of Swiss researchers has found that, under carefully controlled conditions, the full moon does indeed affect us: it alters sleep patterns and changes an important chemical in the body related to sleep and mood.
Their study was published Thursday in the journal Current Biology, and reported last night by the BBC.

YOU WONT FIND THESE AUTOS ON CRAIGSLIST! (with video)
The Los Angeles Times was obliged to correct an article critical of the world famous Petersen Automotive Museum that is selling more than 100 cars to raise funds for an expansion of the facility.
The museum is fighting back with huge headlines “setting the record straight” on its web site.
Get In the (K)now here and watch a video of the auction.

MANNING TRIAL ENTERS FINAL PHASE TODAY
The closing arguments in the Manning trial begin today in Ft. Meade, Md. Meanwhile, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange announces plans to run for the Australian Senate. Get the scoop on this most important topic here.

BRIGHT NEW STAR JOINS U.S. MEDIA LANDSCAPE
We need to know how the rest of the world views US, and one of the best ways is to watch Al Jazeera America, which launches on Aug. 20, it was announced Wednesday.
The real news networks, excluding the NOT “fair and balanced” one, better watch their backs. There’s a little tiger snipping at their heels and it will steal their viewers if the don’t shape up.
Get In the (K)now here, now!

WE BROKE IT, WE SHOULD FIX IT
As Iraq descends deeper into chaos and fears of all-out civil war increase, the topic seems to have disappeared from the public discussion America.
We cannot turn our backs on a nightmare that was created in our name.
It is time to put the future of what is left of the country we destroyed back on the national agenda.

TELESCOPE TOWERS OVER REGION – AND MY BACK YARD
About 6,000 feet up in the San Gabriel Mountains behind my Pasadena home stands the Mount Wilson Solar Observatory, founded by Hale in 1904.
If you are lucky enough, you can spend an evening peering through the 60-inch scope for the princely sum of $900 (dusk through 1 a.m.).
I am luckier than that. Many an evening I sit on my front porch and gaze up at Mt. Wilson, the stars gleaming in the skies above the mountains. The view is just perfect, for me.

HUNTINGTON LIBRARY, ART GALLERY AND GARDENS ARE WORLD RENOWNED Whatever else you might miss on a visit to Southern California, this world renowned complex is a must-see. It is a short ride downhill on my bicycle from my home.
Get up close and personal here.

The treatment of the crackdown on leakers story on Sunday demonstrates that The New York Times is vital.
It is surviving the existential threat to print media everywhere by offering its readers indispensable journalism like this story.
We should all appreciate being In the (K)now. Get the scoop here.

SUBMIT BEST IMAGE, WIN A GIFT CARD TO STARBUCKS
There can be no doubt that it is happening to you too. Almost everyone today carries some sort of camera in a pocket.
Are you not seeing in your camera view-finder – more and more often –somebody else taking your picture?
Get the scoop – and see the images – here. $10 gift card to Starbucks to the winning entry.

FIVE-HANDKERCHIEF COMING-OUT STORY HITS A NERVE (with two videos)
Love is a universal emotion. Everyone single one of us can identify with the issues so delicately explored by Kim Ho in his intimate personal coming out videos.
Kim Ho, 17, shares his angst over revealing his love for another boy in French class in “The Language of love,” which has been viewed more than 160,000 times on You Tube.
See the video for yourself here.