New Mars photos show amazing activity.
For such a dead planet, Mars sure has got a lot of things going on. LIke this mini tornado, as captured by camera aboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter:..
Continue reading… “Dust Devil on Mars”
Insects have ‘Personalities’ too, research on novelty-seeking honey bees indicates
Some honey bees, too, are more likely than others to seek adventure.
A new study in Science suggests that thrill-seeking is not limited to humans and other vertebrates. Some honey bees, too, are more likely than others to seek adventure. The brains of these novelty-seeking bees exhibit distinct patterns of gene activity in molecular pathways known to be associated with thrill-seeking in humans, researchers report…
Eat anything, never exercise and never gain weight by blocking marijuana-like chemical in brain
Who wants to eat anything and stay thin?
A diet pill that someday allows people to eat as much as they want without gaining weight seems possible, based on new research into certain brain chemicals that influence how quickly we burn fat.
Strange hybrid deep-sea creatures discovered
A hermit crab uses an anemone as a shell.
A strange and rare hybrid site in the deep sea where two extreme seafloor environments exist side by side has been discovered by scientists. They are home to a parade of weird hybrid creatures seemingly adapted to the hardships posed by both intense environments.
Continue reading… “Strange hybrid deep-sea creatures discovered”
Why you have your best ideas when you’re least productive
Ideas happen at the darnedest times.
We all have our favorite times to power through work; some of us are up at the crack of dawn toiling away, while others feel more productive when the sun’s setting. But a new study suggests that out best ideas actually come to us when we’re not at our best.
Researchers have been studying how innovation and creativity varies with circadian rhythms—the natural patterns that make you a morning person or an evening type—and the findings are suprising…
Continue reading… “Why you have your best ideas when you’re least productive”
Individual dolphins identify themselves to new dolphins they meet
Dolphins are able to carry on multiple conversations simultaniously.
Dolphins apparently have a system of identifying themselves to each other similar to the way you and I use names.
Scientists have actually known since the 1960s that this system existed. Basically, each dolphin creates their own “signature” whistle when they’re very young. In studies of captive dolphins, they used this whistle mainly when they got separated from the rest of the group. It was like a way of saying, “Hey, I’m over here!” Or, given the environment, perhaps some version of “Marco! Polo!”
But at Not Exactly Rocket Science, Ed Yong writes about a new study of wild dolphins that has really increased our understanding of signature whistles and how dolphins use them…
Continue reading… “Individual dolphins identify themselves to new dolphins they meet”
Blood Lamp
[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/6792724[/vimeo]
What if power came at a cost to the individual?
The average American consumes 3383kwh of energy per year. That’s equivalent to leaving the light on in 4 rooms for a whole year. The simple flick of a switch allows us to power appliances and gadgets 24/7 without a thought to where it comes from and the cost to the environment.
Continue reading… “Blood Lamp”
Bacteria communicate by touch, new research suggests
Associate professor Christopher Hayes and graduate student Christina Beck researching.
What if bacteria could talk to each other? What if they had a sense of touch? A new study by researchers at UC Santa Barbara suggests both, and theorizes that such cells may, in fact, need to communicate in order to perform certain functions…
Continue reading… “Bacteria communicate by touch, new research suggests”
Inventor proposes levitating buildings on air cushions during earthquakes
Those of us who merely watched the devastating 2011 Tohoku earthquake on screens got to witness something amazing: the resiliency and resourcefulness of the Japanese people. And we’re still seeing it as Japan prepares for future earthquakes. Here’s one example. Youichi Sakamoto invented a foundation structure that raises buildings on air pockets as soon as an earthquake starts…
Continue reading… “Inventor proposes levitating buildings on air cushions during earthquakes”
The problem with body mass index
BMI is a simple system, but it does have some flaws.
The Body Mass Index is a popular way to measure and assess whether someone is overweight or underweight. Basically, it’s just your weight divided by your height. BMI is a simple system, but it does have some flaws. Over at the Obesity Panacea blog, Peter Janiszewski (who has a Ph.D. in exercise physiology) has a nice post explaining why BMI is sometimes useful, and also why it’s not a great measurement of individual health…
Continue reading… “The problem with body mass index”
New world’s shortest man
Chandra Bahadur Dangi with his certificates.
Chandra Bahadur Dangi of Nepal is now officially the world’s shortest living man. He’s 21.5″ (54.6 cm) tall. If you have a hard time estimating that, notice the, er, iPad included in the photo above for comparison. Dangi beat out the Philippine’s Junrey Balawing by two full inches. From Guinness World Records…
Continue reading… “New world’s shortest man”
The Smithsonian turns to 3D printing to share their collection
Print your own Jefferson.
According to The Creators Project, the Smithsonian has over 137 million pieces in its collection, but only enough room to display about 2 percent of them. So it’s turning to 3D printing to share as much as it can.
Working with a company called Redeye, who specializes in 3D scanning and rapid prototyping, the Smithsonian hopes to clone many of their pieces so they can be lent to other museums around the world, and safely included in traveling exhibitions…
Continue reading… “The Smithsonian turns to 3D printing to share their collection”
