Scientists have found a calculus computing center which tells primitive roundworms how to navigate towards food and away from poison. By understanding the behavior of these roundworms, researchers are seeking to find suitable treatment for the hundreds of thousands who have problems related to taste and smell. Are we learning more about ourselves from roundworms?
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Did you know that the sound quality of the Stradivarius is actually determined by the growth rings in the wood used to make the violin? For a long time music lovers and researchers have tried to understand the real reason behind the melodious sound of the Stradivarius, especially when compared to violins made from modern wood. Using CT scans, Dutch scientists are now able to determine how the microstructure of the wood can influence the way vibrations travel through it.
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Wrap your noggin around this: a team of researchers has created the world’s first complete high-resolution map that shows how the outer brain layer’s neural fibers connect and communicate. The mapping marks a major step towards understanding how the highly complex part of the brian responsible for higher level thinking operates and could help other other scientists continue mapping the brain’s trillions of neural links. Understanding how the brain is connected may allow for successful predictions as to what the brain will do.
A solar and wind-powered electronic billboard will debut in New York’s Times Square in December, becoming the flashy intersection’s first eco-friendly ad. Forty-five solar panels and four wind turbines will power the nearly 6,000 square foot billboard, resulting in a reduction of carbon dioxide usage by 18 tons a year. Relying solely on alternative energy, the sign’s floodlights will go dark on gloomy and wind-less days in the Big Apple.
Mondays can break out the champagne in celebration after receiving vindication with new research that suggests Wednesdays actually boast the title of most depressing day of the week. Hump Day’s position in the week as the day furthest away from the weekend that has either just past or is coming up spawned a case of the Debbie Downers for people already bogged down with work. Despite predicted mood swings based on the day of the week, the researchers also discovered moods remained about the same throughout the week.
An airplane ride crammed in the middle seat next to someone going au naturale could become slightly more pleasant, well, for your nose anyway. Researchers in Portugal have developed a way to inject fragrances into fabric that could potentially neutralize funky body odor. Although, sorry to say that the perfumed clothing will likely do nothing to prevent your stinky plane buddy from falling asleep on your tray table.
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Did you know that the Madagascar chameleon spends three quarters of its entire life in an egg? Most mammals, reptiles and amphibians live between two and ten years. A zoology student discovered this very unusual life cycle where this chameleon lives for just about five months after it has hatched. There aren’t any other four-legged creatures that have such a short lifespan.
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Scientists have known since the mid-1990’s that people with a certain mutation have an incredible resistance to HIV and now a team of researchers may have found a way to duplicate the mutation’s effect, subsequently creating a possible immunity against the deadly virus. University of Pennsylvania scientists have tested the treatment on cultured T-cells and mice, so uncertainty remains as to whether the technique would work in humans.
Britain’s first “designer baby” will enter the world without the gene that causes hereditary breast cancer after her mother underwent a controversial screening technique called pre-implantation diagnosis. Doctors screened embryos for the cancer gene before implantation, rejecting six embryos that tested positive. The 27-year-old woman is now 14 weeks pregnant and says she went through the procedure because of the high rate of breast cancer in her husband’s family.
Future Fourth of July fireworks displays will undoubtedly remain red, white and blue, but they may also boast a smidgen of green as researchers work on more eco-friendly pyrotechnics. Leftover potassium perchlorate, the chemical used to speed up the fuel-burning process, can remain after pyrotechnics snuff out, leaving remnants of a chemical shown to inhibit the thyroid gland. Researchers have discovered that by switching out perchlorate for compounds with more nitrogen, the explosive displays could make Mother Nature a little happier.
Researchers have developed an implantable device that emits a low-level electrical charge to a stomach nerve and could provide a less invasive alternative to surgery in the battle against obesity. Patients regulate the device that blocks the vagal nerve, signaling a feeling of fullness to obese patients following a regular size meal. Far less invasive than the stomach snipping of bariatric surgery, the researchers also claim the device causes no damage to the vagal nerves or stomach.
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If you keep your lips sealed at karaoke bars for fear of sounding more William Hung than Kelly Clarkson, then put down that Appletini and take your rightful place on stage as new research suggests almost everyone can carry a tune. A series of studies conducted in Canada and Poland revealed that over 90 percent of participants could sing in tune and nearly 100 percent could successfully nail a melody’s timing. Amongst the 10 percent who failed to sing in tune, half recognized their dreadful warbling, while the other half had no clue about their lousy singing. Hmm, I’m thinking one night at boozed-infused singalong could disprove this research.
Hopefully Santa Claus invested in a life raft and keep your fingers crossed that the elves’ workshop has flood insurance because this summer the North Pole will likely be ice-free for the first time in human history. With no land at the North Pole, the melt off could allow ships to sail right through the normally frozen top of the Earth. Global warming or too many Mrs. Claus and tooth fairy hot tubs parties?
A new study suggests that people who believe God determines worldly affairs are less likely to vote in national elections. A general belief in God did not prove an accurate predictor for political involvement as individuals who viewed God as more inactive or believed that “actively seeking social and economic justice is important in being a good person” exhibited higher scores on political participation. Evangelical and black Protestants showed lower political engagement as compared to Jewish, Protestant and Catholic survey participants.
An interesting study out of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee claims that bicultural individuals who speak two languages exhibit significant, albeit unconscious, changes in self-perception when switching languages. The study found examined Hispanic women who engage in both Latino and Anglo culture undergo “frame-shifting” when switching languages. When speaking Spanish, the women reported themselves as more assertive, self-sufficient and extroverted than when they spoke English.
Neurophysiologists at the University of California have recently discovered that sarcasm plays an important part in human social interaction. Subsequently, people who don’t get sarcasm may have some damage in their parahippocampal gyrus, located in the right brain, which means that they are unable to respond in socially appropriate ways. Hmm, perhaps this explains why some Americans don’t get sarcasm? Any Americans who were offended by the previous statement may need to question their evolutionary survival skills.
Apparently the aliens sent down their nerdiest little green men to create a crop circle described by astrophysicists as “mind-boggling.” The impressive formation represents a coded image of the first 10 digits of pi, 3.141592654. One astrophysicist noted that the mysterious creator even correctly rounded up the tenth digit. The crop circle popped up in a barley field in Wiltshire, Britain.
Ever since the late 19th century when United Fruit Company (now called Chiquita) figured out how to transport bananas to U.S quickly, the popular yellow treat has enjoyed a profitable and yummy spot as America’s favorite fruit. While higher oil prices and flooding in Ecuador have caused a rise in prices, the suppliers’ decision to sell only one banana variety could spell ultimate disaster for your breakfast bowl. Despite the existence of over 1,000 varieties, almost all Americans only see one variety, the Cavendish, and a new strain of Panama disease has started spreading around the world’s banana fields. The Cavendish has no immunity and, without any aid to fight the fungus, our tables could be banana-less in 5 to 20 years.
Wednesday night’s full Moon could have you rubbing your eyes in disbelief, as the huge, crater-covered celestial body rises in the east. Don’t expect a terrified Fido to frolic away with his tail between his legs though, as scientists believe only humans see the Moon Illusion. For a far more scientific explanation of the Moon Illusion than us Truemors folks could even aim to offer, check out NASA. Or skip the science nerd stuff and tune in to your local skies for a show you won’t forget.
Solar power has never been a viable alternative to traditional power plants. The problems up until this point is that solar is simply not efficient enough to be cost effective. A California company is testing a new type of solar power plant in Israel that they hope will reduce costs per Kilowatt hour by 30-50%.
For millions of night owls, morning starts off with an “ugh” and the guzzling of a hot cup of coffee, but new research suggests morning perkiness could be achieved with a simple sniff. Scientists have discovered that inhaling the rich aroma of joe may change the activity of some brain genes and could reduce the effects of sleep deprivation. So, shut your mouth, take a big whiff and perk up sleepy head!
Stem cells may help heal bone fractures according to researchers at the University of North Carolina. The tests were on mice, but if this works with humans, then 600,000 American per year may benefit from stem-cell treatment. There is no ethical issue for Republicans to freak out about because doctors would use the person’s own stem cells–not embryonic ones.
Ulster University professor Richard Lynn has published a study that claims people with higher IQs tend to not believe in God and recent declines in religious observance directly correlates to a rise in average intelligence. Lynn furthers his argument by contending that society’s “intellectual elite” lean more towards atheism than the regular public. Professor Lynn has stirred up controversy in the past by linking intelligence to race and sex and critics have called his latest claims “simplistic.” Ok, now all of you can go duke it out in the comments section.
No, we’re not talking about a billionaire and a trophy wife. A seed found in the Masada fortress near the Dead Sea has germinated. The seed is approximately 2,000 years old. It breaks the record of the previously oldest seed to germinate by 700 years.
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