Science News

http://news.discovery.com/space/warp-drive-possible-nasa-tests-100yss-120917.html Comments? Is this the real deal, or media twisting the facts?

http://www.nature.com/news/tantalizing-hints-of-room-temperature-superconductivity-1.11443 Anyone got any thoughts on if this could be possible?

In a study published in PloS one researchers have handed out questionaires to assess the moral orientation of the participants. After filling out the survey, candidates were asked to defend their position. The trick was that while turning over the sheets the wording in the question changed to the opposite of the original statement. Interestingly over 50% of the participants even argued for the opposite of their original attitude. PloS One Of course, this calls into question the validity of such surveys, but also shows the flexibility of attitudes to some extent.

http://www.guardian....hower-astronomy The Martians have retaliated quickly. This weekend there's a meteor shower. Keep an eye out.

http://phys.org/news/2012-09-world-atomic-microscope-chemical-bonds.html

In this publication the authors report the extensive creation of flint tool by the famous bonobo Kanzi. Stone tool production and utilization by bonobo-chimpanzees (Pan paniscus) Roffman, Itai; Savage-Rumbaugh, Sue; Rubert-Pugh, Elizabeth; Ronen, Avraham; Nevo, Eviatar (2012) PNAS (published before print) Supplementary material with video is found Here.

BEHAVIOR OF YOUNG CHILDREN UNDER CONDITIONS SIMULATING ENTRAPMENT IN REFRIGERATORS I love this kind of stuff. source: Journal of Pediatrics

It indicates that suicide victims often show the presence of T gondii, a parasite protoctistan organism (with several warm blooded hosts, especially the cat). T gondii can cause cell inflammation which then releases metabolites which can cause inflammation of brain tissues. People with inflammation in the brain are often seen to have committed suicide, presumably after autopsy evidence. Science Daily Although this is interesting news and is also interesting science, are the premises strong enough for the conclusion are are they weak enough for other factors to be considered? Any comments?

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2004/23jan_entangled/ Spooky Atomic Clocks NASA-supported researchers hope to improve high-precision clocks by entangling their atoms. Listen to this story via streaming audio, a downloadable file, or get help. January 23, 2004: Einstein called it "spooky action at a distance." Now NASA-funded researchers are using an astonishing property of quantum mechanics called "entanglement" to improve atomic clocks--humanity's most precise way to measure time. Entangled clocks could be as much as 1000 times more stable than their non-entangled counterparts. This improvement would benefit pilots, …

Good news to the physicist community. I came across an excellent website on conceptual physics questions. Address of the website is (url removed by mod). The website has got worthful content and is very helpful to the student community.

Ann interesting article describing how young gorillas learned to spot and dismantle traps. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/07/120719-young-gorillas-juvenile-traps-snares-rwanda-science-fossey/?source=hp_dl2_news_smart_gorillas20120720

A connection between solar flare activity and radioactive decay may be used to predict solar flares more than a day in advance. http://www.gizmag.com/radioactive-solar-flare-warning-system/23702/ http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0927650512000928

A contest backed by google to place a telescope on the moon is moving closer to fruition... http://www.gizmag.com/iloa-lunar-telescope/23639/?utm_source

Computer simulations of what happens to Earth like planets when they are subjected to great heat, similar to the super earths orbiting near their home stars is allowing scientists to gain insight into how these planets form and how Earth and Venus became so different. http://www.gizmag.com/super-earth-destroyed-simulation/23628/?utm_source

Surprised no one posted this yet... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19184370 What does this mean for current human evolutionary models? They mention "the research adds to a growing body of evidence that runs counter to the popular perception that there was a linear evolution from early primates to modern humans". Explain please.

Paddlefish's Doubled Genome May Question Theories On Limb Evolution ScienceDaily (Aug. 6, 2012) — The American paddlefish -- known for its bizarre, protruding snout and eggs harvested for caviar -- duplicated its entire genome about 42 million years ago, according to a new study published in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution. This finding may add a new twist to the way scientists study how fins evolved into limbs since the paddlefish is often used as a proxy for a more representative ancestor shared by humans and fishes. A juvenile paddlefish, just under three inches long at two months old. Fully grown American paddlefish can reach five feet (1.5 m) in le…

Histology is the study of tissue, all tissue types and species. We take live tissue and fix it, so that is no longer degrading, so it stays in it's original form. Then we process the tissue, take all the water out and replace it with paraffin. The specimen is then cut on a machine called a microtome. It is cut very thin, 2-10 microns and placed on a glass slide. Typically it is then stained with hematoxylin and eosin or (H&E), although there are many other stains. The hematoxylin stains the tissue structures a purple color that are basic or alkaline such as the nuclei. The eosin will stain the structures different hues of pink that are acidic such as the cytopla…

Artificial jellyfish built from rat cells http://www.nature.com/news/artificial-jellyfish-built-from-rat-cells-1.11046 Fascinating.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120720103543.htm ScienceDaily (July 20, 2012) — New findings suggest the surface of Saturn's largest moon may have undergone a recent transformation. For many years, Titan's thick, methane- and nitrogen-rich atmosphere kept astronomers from seeing what lies beneath. Saturn's largest moon appeared through telescopes as a hazy orange orb, in contrast to other heavily cratered moons in the solar system. Images from the Cassini mission show river networks draining into lakes in Titan's north polar region. (Credit: NASA/JPL/USGS)

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120718131348.htm Neanderthals in Northern Spain Had Knowledge of Plants' Healing Qualities, Study Reveals ScienceDaily (July 17, 2012) — An international team of researchers, led by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the University of York, has provided the first molecular evidence that Neanderthals not only ate a range of cooked plant foods, but also understood its nutritional and medicinal qualities. A researcher at work in El Sidrón Cave. (Credit: CSIC Comunicación)

-So if we are able to break down particles, could we essentially replicate particles out of nowhere using a device that esentialy clones these particles? Like a particle data bank? -Also what is the exact break down of a particle?

Although Big Bang neucleosynthesis theory is considered successful in explaining the observed abundance of helium in the universe, it has had problems explaining other elements and isotopes such as deuterium and Lithium. This new study seems to indicated that new Lithium is being created by stellar black holes which would additionally confound the observed lithium shortfall with theory. http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/342395/title/Black_hole_theory_deepens_lithium_crisis

http://the-scientist.com/2012/07/20/rights-for-cetaceans/ Rights for Cetaceans An animal rights law group plans to renew law group plans to renew the fight for recognizing certain species as persons. The Nonhuman Rights Project, a nonprofit organization advocating for legal rights for animals, is planning on filing two lawsuits on behalf of captive animals in the United States by the end of next year, according to Wired Science. Although the group has not yet decided which species will be targeted, highly intelligent social animals such as bonobos, chimpanzees, elephants, and dolphins are strong contenders. The head of the organization, animal law sch…

Religion May Have Evolved Because Of Its Ability To Help People Exercise Self-Control ScienceDaily (Jan. 1, 2009) — Self-control is critical for success in life, and a new study by University of Miami professor of Psychology Michael McCullough finds that religious people have more self-control than do their less religious counterparts. Rural church. Religion may have evolved because of its ability to help people exercise self-control. (Credit: iStockphoto/Philip Dyer) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081231005355.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120718143917.htm Enhanced Royal Jelly Produces Jumbo Queen Bee Larvae ScienceDaily (July 18, 2012) — Scientists have discovered a way to make worker bees produce an enhanced version of royal jelly (RJ) -- the super-nutritious substance that dictates whether larvae become workers or queens, and that is also renowned as a health supplement for people. Scientists have discovered a way to make worker bees produce an enhanced version of royal jelly (RJ) -- the super-nutritious substance that dictates whether larvae become workers or queens, and that is also renowned as a health supplement for people. (Credit: © koi8…