The newly discovered ‘hobbit’-sized Homo floriensis found in Indonesia may only have been regular individual with Down syndrome, a new study suggests. A team of researchers shows in a first paper that the asymmetry of the skull and its small brain can be explained by some genetic disorder, and that it doesn’t provide enough evidence […]
Category: Paper of Interest
New DNA technique could speed up genetic screening before birth
A new technique makes it easier for single molecules of DNA to be stretched out and imaged, which could lead to faster detection of genetic abnormalities in human embryos. The technique involves putting single DNA molecules in a liquid on top a bed of nano-sized grooves, then gently lowering a curved ‘lid’ on top. As […]
The eyes (and the ears) have it
A new study shows that horses rely on both the eyes and the ears of fellow horses in order to understand where their attention is directed. Horses were presented with a life-sized photograph of a horse that was pointing toward one of two buckets full of food. They tended to choose the bucket toward which […]
Researchers call for more studies on plastic in seabirds
Ingestion of plastic by seabirds is a serious problem, but research into the issue is patchy, according to a new review paper. Of the 91 seabird species in Canada, 33 have at least one reported case of plastic ingestion, however detailed data on plastic ingestion over time is available for only 6 species. Plastic ingestion […]
Scientists propose ‘roadmap’ to determine the impact of fracking
An international review highlights the knowledge gaps related to the ecological consequences of shale gas development, and sets priorities for future research. The authors point out that shale-drilling operations have increased by more than 700 per cent in the United States since 2007 and that it has occurred mostly in areas of biological diversity, yet […]
World Cup science: Goalkeepers follow predicable patterns during shootouts
Soccer goalkeepers in penalty shootouts behave in a predictable way, a new study shows. The authors analysed all 361 kicks from the 37 penalty shootouts that occurred in World Cup and Euro Cup matches over a 36-year period (1976-2012). They found out that following repeated kicks in the same direction, goalkeepers became increasingly likely to […]
Deep-sea octopus broods eggs for over 4 years
A new study documents the case of a deep-sea octopus who tended her eggs for nearly 4.5 years, by far the longest egg-brooding period ever reported for any animal species. The octopus was first spotted a remote controlled underwater in a submarine canyon of the coast of California in 2007. Researchers returned regularly until the eggs […]
Milky Way galaxy may be lighter than previously thought
A new computer simulation has calculated that the mass of our own Milky Way galaxy is about half that of the Andromeda galaxy, one of our closest partners despite previous research. Using the motion and position of “satellite galaxies” researchers have showing that the Milky Way galaxy has a smaller mass than the Andromeda galaxy. The […]
Small drones are now as efficient as hummingbirds
A study reveals that the aerodynamic efficiency of one of the world’s most advanced hummingbird-sized drones, the Black Hornet, is on par with that of actual hummingbirds. While hummingbird wings generate more lift and less drag than an engineered rotor, this shows that artificial man-made wings are closer than ever to approximate the efficiency of […]
Streams in the boreal forests emit more CO2 than previously thought
Streams in the boreal forest emit more carbon dioxide than previously thought, a new study shows. Researchers discovered that previous studies on CO2 emissions from lakes and groundwater only studied the endpoints of streams and rivers. Studying carbon isotopes ratios from various points in groundwater allowed the researchers discovered previously unaccounted for CO2 emissions. The boreal forest […]
‘Killer sperm’ prevents mating between worm species
In Caenorhabditis worms, sperm from a foreign species can attack the organs of a female, rendering her sterile or even killing her according to new research. Researchers believe the ‘killer sperm’ may be the result of a divergence in the evolution of worm species’ sexual organs. For example, hermaphrodite worms—which produce their own sperm and fertilize […]
CPR guidelines could be improved
Three physicians argue for re-introducing the traditional ‘head-tilt-chin-lift’ technique to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for untrained bystanders in a new commentary article. The technique was eliminated as part of an effort to make CPR instructions easier to understand and thus more likely to be used. The authors say that completely removing mouth-to-mouth instructions is dangerous for patients […]
Can fossils survive cosmic impacts?
An experiment has shown that microscopic fossils can survive being fired from a gun and impacting at pressures up to 19 gigapascals (GPa). The fossils recovered by the researchers were smaller as projectile speed increased, however intact fossils were recovered from all trials. Researchers made the discovery by using fossilized diatoms – aquatic microorganisms with silica-based shells – […]
Take two parasites and call me in the morning
Two recent papers published by members of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) have questioned our traditional perception of intestinal parasites. The first, published July 14, 2014 in Trends in Parasitology is a systematic review of cases where humans have deliberately ingested parasites for research and suggests that certain parasites could have beneficial effects on conditions […]
Wood thrushes ‘leap-frog’ during migration
Researchers have published the first detailed migratory map for different populations of wood thrushes. Over 100 birds were tracked using geolocators, a kind of ‘bird backpack’ that records sunrise and sunset times. Among other things, researchers found that the birds which travelled furthest north in the summer are also the ones that travel furthest south […]
Site of artefacts under threat
A new paper documents the rich density of artifacts found in the Kathu Townlands site in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The site is dominated by a type of rock called chert that is ideal for making hand axes, small blades and other stone tools, and shows abundant evidence of having been […]