Microtubes connecting brain tumor cells allow a specific type of brain cancer, known as gliomas, to spread quickly and become resistant to radiation therapy, a new study shows. This knowledge will allow researchers to target for future treatment efforts. These microtubes allow cancerous cells to reach out and form connections, allowing them to grow as […]
Posts by Kelly Fram (KellyFram)
De-ice de-ice baby
Water droplets resting on water-repellent surfaces spring away spontaneously in a low-pressure environment, according to a new study . This finding could be used to help develop more advanced anti-icing systems for ships, offshore drilling rigs, and airplanes. The researchers found that as the water evaporated, a difference in pressure caused the drops to spontaneously […]
Branching out of the family
Crows spend most of their social time with family members, but when they need a little extra help to get some food – they’re not averse to enlisting others, according to researchers. New Caledonian crows are a clever group – a species known to use tools to get hard to reach food. Analyzing the activity […]
What we can learn from jellyfish
Jellyfish and lamprey eels have some of the lowest energy costs for swimming of any animal, and now scientists have figured out how they do it. Fish, humans, and boats move forward by propelling water backwards thereby generating thrust. Jellyfish and eels however are able to generate low pressure regions that help pull them through the […]
APGAR scores provide clues about the mothers’ health
Researchers found a strong correlation between a newborn’s Apgar score and whether the mother will be admitted to the ICU after delivery. The researchers hope these findings will help doctors predict which mothers will become critically ill after giving birth, and may help predict which mothers need additional medical checks. The study analyzed data from […]
Stomach fat increases risk of diabetes during pregnancy
Women with a high level of abdominal fat during the first trimester of pregnancy have a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes later on during pregnancy, according to a new study. Researchers measured the abdominal fat of 485 women during the end of their first trimester (11 – 14 weeks), and later measured their oral […]
Quebec’s TB troubles
Québec’s unusually high rate of tuberculosis (TB) is most likely due to the local environment and cultural practices, rather than a particularly potent strain of TB, according to researchers. Québec has an incidence rate 50 times higher than the Canadian average. Researchers performed whole-genome sequencing on 163 TB samples from 11 geographically isolated villages in […]
Farming fungus: A new bee-haviour
An accident in the lab has lead to the discovery that a specific species of bee, native to Brazil, farms fungus for their larvae to eat. This finding raises concerns about the use of fungicides in agriculture. Researchers made the discovery while attempting to breed queen bees, but found white fungus growing out of control, […]
Preventing food allergies in infants
A review by Canadian physicians suggests parents can help prevent food allergies in their children by introducing allergenic foods early. The authors show that with a few exceptions, introducing these foods between four and six months of age can safely help prevent the development of food allergies. The authors recommend exposing infants at low risk […]
Unlocking the secrets of electric eels
Videos of the electric eels in the experiment are available here, and here. (Video credit: Kenneth Catania) Electric eels use their high-voltage discharge not only to stun their prey, but to also to track it before attacking, according to new research. The eels are able to track prey in this manner without the use of […]
Transmitting resistance to malaria
Drug-resistant malaria parasites, which have so far emerged only in Southeast Asia, can infect species of mosquitoes found in Africa, according to a new study. If the drug-resistant parasites spread to the African mosquito species it could potentially damage global efforts to eradicate malaria, according to the authors. However further research is required to determine […]
Mobile testing for Sickle Cell Anemia
Testing for sickle cell anaemia may one-day be done in the field thanks to a new smartphone attachment and app. Sickle cell anaemia is a hereditary blood disorder commonly found in individuals of African descent, and can cause organ damage, and increase the risk of stroke and death. Researchers created an attachment for their smartphones […]
How the Emperor stays warm: Secrets of the emperor penguin
Researchers have discovered how the emperor penguin withstands the cold temperatures of Antarctica. The secret is in their down, and a specific type of feather called the plumule. The plumule, one of four types of feathers on a penguin, has previously been overlooked as an important part of the insulation. Studying three emperor penguins, researchers […]
The perfect temperature for productivity
Rising temperatures from climate change will slow economic productivity, and if left unchecked will lower the average global wage by 25 per cent by 2100, according to a new study. Economic productivity peaks at 13 ºC, and declines at lower or higher temperatures, according to a review of global economic data from the World Bank. […]
The Nature of Chernobyl
At the site of the Chernobyl disaster, animals are thriving, according to findings from a long-term census. Researchers found populations of native wildlife, such as elk, deer, boars, and wolves, have bounced back, reaching a population size similar to nearby nature reserves. The researchers note that this growth in population occurred at a time when […]
Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder
Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder, or at least partly, according to new findings. While there are indeed some universal aspects of attractiveness, such as symmetry, they believe that the uniqueness of an individual’s facial preferences is determined by experiences with friends and peers, past partners, as well as social and popular […]
