Researchers have created sperm cells from infertile men who could not produce healthy sperm them on their own. They did this by converting skin cells into stem cells, which then became fertile human sperm cells when transplanted into the testicles of mice. This opens up the possibility of clinical cell-based therapy that could make infertile […]
Category: Paper of Interest
Fluid fats fuel frozen flies
New research shows that gall fly larvae produce a special form of fat that remains liquid at very low temperatures, up to -80 °C. Gall flies have some of the best cold tolerance in the animal kingdom. They spend the winter inside lumps of plant tissue called galls. While the new discovery could help explain […]
‘Scent of man’ stresses lab mice out
A new study shows that the behaviour of mice used in scientific experiments was altered by the presence of men, but not women. The study shows that in the presence of male experimenters and male odours, mice were less sensitive to pain, a phenomenon called stress-induced analgesia. Lab mice are more stressed when the […]
The variation inside
A Quebec-based study of 1000 people has found that even those with similar genes can have big variations in how those genes are expressed. The study looked at mitochondria, components of the cell that have their own DNA. The researchers found that when this DNA is transcribed to RNA, there was a lot of variation […]
When not to treat prostate cancer
A new study suggests that in some cases, not treating prostate cancer can increase quality of life for patients and save millions of dollars. The Quebec-based study found that active surveillance – watching and waiting – for five years could save up to $96 million for the health care system while improving quality of life […]
‘Lab-in-a-pill’ improves remote water testing
Take a cup a water, drop in a pill and shake it up; if the water turns purple, your well could be contaminated with bacteria. Such test are now possible thanks to a new method for encapsulating enzymes – including those used in lab tests for bacterial contamination – in a material called pullulan, the […]
The evolution of self-control
A new study has found species with larger brains (great apes and old-world monkeys) may have more self-control than species with smaller brains (birds and lemurs).
Generating graphene in the kitchen
A new study shows that sheets of defect-free graphene can easily be ‘exfoliated’ from graphite by placing it in water and stirring it up with an ordinary kitchen blender. This allows for sheets of graphene to be produced in large quantities. Graphene is an atom-thick network of carbon that is strong, nearly transparent, and an […]
Can the internet improve mental health for university students?
A randomized study on 1047 university students showed that online interventions can be effective at helping them cope with mental health disorders.University is a time when many students are at risk from common mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders and alcohol and drug abuse. The study showed that students at high […]
Public education and firewood subsities could help stop invasive pests
The spread of the emerald ash borer and the Asian longhorned beetle has been helped thanks to fire. Each species is able to hide among pieces of firewood to travel to new habitats. A new study uses mathematical modelling to show that public education coupled with a subsidy to decrease the cost of local firewood […]
Measuring the brain’s anti-distraction system
Researchers have used EEGs (electoencephalogram) to show that a newly discovered type of neural process that works to overcome a distraction. When your gaze shifts to follow a distraction, neural circuits in your brain gives off signals that can be detected during an EEG. The discovery could help develop new strategies to avoid distracted driving or offer […]
In Brazilian cave insects, females have penises
Researchers have discovered four related species of cave insects in the genus Neotrogla in which females have evolved an elaborate, penis-like organ known as a gynosome. By contrast, males have a much reduced, vagina-like opening, through which they provide nutritious seminal gifts in addition to sperm. Because of the resource-poor environment of the cave, it’s […]
Fruit flies follow their gut instincts
Fruit flies are most attracted to fruit that already has flies on it, but what exactly are they smelling? A new study shows that the odour that attracts the flies is produced by neither the fruit nor the other flies and larva. Instead bacteria living in the guts of those other flies and larva produce […]
Empowered seniors make better medication choices
A randomized, controlled trial of 303 seniors from Quebec found that a simple intervention resulted in 27% of them becoming sleeping-pill free. The study emphasizes the importance of seniors being active and able participants in decisions about their health care. The researchers used a handout describing the risks of sleeping pill use and encouraging the […]
Methane leaks from Pennsylvania shale gas well during drilling
Using data from an aircraft survey of southwestern Pennsylvania in June 2012, researchers have shown that shale gas wells in the drilling phase emit between 100 and 1000 times more methane than previously thought. The authors call for an examination of all aspects of natural gas production activity to improve methane inventory estimates and identify […]
Into thin Martian air
By analysing impact craters on the Martian surface, researchers have worked out that the atmosphere on Mars 3.6 billion years ago was still too thin to support life. The researchers estimate that the atmosphere at the time would only be about 150 times thicker than today. The authors suggest that if Mars had a thick […]