Japanese researchers have successfully produced functional mouse eggs entirely in cell culture. For the first time, Katsuhiko Hayashi and colleagues generated mature egg cells using pluripotent stem cells derived from both embryos and adults. The team subjected the new egg cells to in vitro fertilization to develop embryos, which were then transferred into surrogate mice. Some […]
Posts by SMCCadmin (SMCCadmin)
Stones broken by wild monkeys add an edge to early-human tool use theories
As seen in the video, wild bearded capuchin monkeys also adopt a stone-on-stone percussion technique to produce stone flakes similar to early-human stone tools. Broken stones with distinct sharp edges are thought to be a precursor to more sophisticated tool use by early humans. However, a recent Oxford study found that sharp-edged stones may not […]
Vocal dialects of Galapagos whale clans offer a look into the structure of animal societies 
Vocal dialects of sperm whales living near the Galapagos Islands have undergone a complete turnover in the last 30 years. The change is due to a migration of different sperm whale clans: two whale populations with distinct vocal dialects populated in the area in 1980s and the 1990s, and were then replaced by two other […]
Eyesight sharpened in the blink of an eye
The next time you reach for your reading glasses, try this weird trick instead: staring at a flickering display. Researchers at Western University found that staring at a series of flickering images can help temporarily sharpen vision. This is due to the decreased activity from the visual pathway responsible for carrying less detailed visual cues […]
Sexual selection drives fruit fly mega sperm
Male fruit flies have super-sized sperm, making them an evolutionary anomaly. Now, researchers have determined why their “little swimmers” aren’t so little. Sexual selection typically favours organisms that produce a large number of small sperm instead of those organisms which invest lots of resources into a small number of large sperm. However, the sperm of […]
Canadian oil sands mining has strong impact on aerosols
Oil sands are one of the largest sources of anthropogenic secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) in North America. SOAs are a component of atmospheric particulate matter, and are known to affect air quality and influence climate. A new study, which combined aircraft measurements, lab experiments, and computer modelling, found that oil sand extraction operations are directly […]
Meerkats size each other up for success
In the wild, meerkats adjust their food intake and growth rate to match the size of their potential sexual rivals, according to a new study. The research also indicates a dominant meerkat will continue to grow if there is only a small size difference between them and their next heaviest potential rival. The researchers studied […]
Early Neanderthal constructions found in a French cave
Ancient ring-like structures found in a cave in France were probably built by Neanderthals, indicating they had more complex behaviour than previously thought. Researchers believe that the ring-shaped structures, which date to around 176,000 years ago, were constructed and carefully planned, although they are not certain of their purpose. The structures were found 336 metres […]
Obesity rising in least walkable Ontario neighborhoods
Obesity rates are rising in neighbourhoods in Southern Ontario with low walkability ratings, while in highly walkable neighbourhoods obesity rates remain steady. There was also a fall in the rate of new diabetes cases in the more walkable neighbourhoods, according to the results of a new study. The study examined patterns of obesity, diabetes, and […]
In changing oceans, cephalopods are booming
As climate change affects the ocean environment, many species are declining – but not the ocean’s cephalopods. Populations of these creatures, which include octopus, cuttlefish, and squid, have increased over the past 60 years. Researchers believe their characteristics, such as rapid growth and short life-spans, allow them to adapt to changing ocean conditions more quickly […]
Emissions to cause even more profound warming
Burning all the Earth’s remaining fossil fuels could lead to an average temperature increase of about 8 °C across the globe—with an increase of 17 °C in the Arctic—by 2300, say researchers at the University of Victoria. Using a series of comprehensive Earth system models, researchers simulated long-term warming in response to releasing five trillion […]
New strategy could yield more precise seasonal flu vaccine
Using a new strategy, researchers believe they are able to better anticipate seasonal flu strains, allowing for the development of more effective vaccines. Using techniques commonly employed in virology, the research team was able to assemble the 2014 flu virus strain before the onset of the epidemic. By assembling libraries of the human-affecting H1N1 and […]
Call to minimize drone impact on wildlife
Increasingly, researchers are turning to drones, or UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) to study animals and ecosystems. But questions remain about any effect these drones might be having on wildlife. While they say there is not yet enough scientific evidence to show the impact of drones on wildlife, two researchers believe there is enough information to […]
Infants much less likely to get the flu if moms are vaccinated during pregnancy
Babies whose mothers get flu shots while pregnant have a significantly reduced risk of becoming ill with the flu during their first six months. During those first months, infants cannot be immunized against influenza, and must rely on herd immunity and any protection provided by their mother’s antibodies. Researchers found infants six months and younger […]
Three Earth-like planets found around a neighboring star
Researchers have detected three Earth-like planets orbiting a star close to our Sun. The two inner planets are orbiting just outside the inner edge of their star’s habitable zone, but the researchers believe the third planet likely lies within or beyond the habitable zone. The size and brightness of the star, an ultracool dwarf star […]
Why Labrador retrievers are more interested in food than other dogs
The first gene to ever be associated with canine obesity could explain why Labrador retrievers are more interested in food than other breeds. An alteration on the pro-opiomelanocortin, or POMC gene is found specifically in Labs and the related breed of flat-coated retrievers.The researchers found, on average, dogs with the POMC deletion were 2 kg heavier. Their owners also […]