Allowing students to make, and act on, quantitative comparisons between sets of data, helps them evaluate models more effectively, new research indicates. In an introductory physics laboratory course students were instructed to make and act on comparisons between datasets, and between data and models – an approach common in many areas of science. By the end of […]
This is your brain on Whistled Turkish
While language is thought to be primarily a function of the brain’s left hemisphere, new research shows, it isn’t necessarily so. Whistled Turkish, a form of Turkish adapted into a series of whistles to allow for communication over greater distances, is processed equally in both brain hemispheres, researchers have found. Whistled Turkish is the only […]
Wild salmon reproduce better than hatchery ones
Hatchery salmons are often introduced into rivers to support wild populations, which are in a state of decline. Yet hatchery males have lower reproductive success than wild ones, according to a study of 196 Coho salmons (Oncorhynchus kisutch). When occupying the same position in the spawning hierarchy, hatchery males have only 55 to 84 per […]
Eastern Golden Eagle populations and environmental change
Using GPS trackers and studying feather samples from 42 Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) researchers found that they exhibit migratory connectivity, as individuals from the same breeding population migrate to the same wintering area. This means that subpopulations of the Golden Eagle are more vulnerable to environmental changes than currently expected. The authors found that individual […]
The Cape Parrot – a new species
Genetic analysis of the Cape parrot, currently considered a Poicephalus robustus sub-species, shows that it is genetically distinct from other P. robustus subspecies and should be elevated to the species level. The researchers believe this may allow for better planning and implementation of conservation strategies for the Cape Parrot. The researchers genotyped 138 specimens from […]
Trans fats, not saturated fats, are the real danger
Saturated fats are not associated with cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, stroke, or type 2 diabetes, while trans fats are, according to a meta-analysis of studies. Researchers reviewed 39 studies from around the world, where nutrients, typically refined carbohydrates, were replaced with saturated fat. The researchers found no association between saturated fats and health outcomes, […]
Filming the brain activity of a fly
Using imaging technology together with technology for detecting neuronal activity from specific groups of cells, a team of researchers has been able to “film” the activity of the entire central nervous system of a developing fly, Drosophila melanogaster. This type of methodology is expected to help advance the understanding of the neuronal networks that dictate […]
Omega-3 may help to prevent psychotic disorders
Omega-3 may help reduce the risk of developing psychosis and psychiatric disorders, a study of 81 young people at high risk of developing schizophrenia shows. The participants were randomly split into two groups, one group received omega-3 daily for 12 weeks, while the other received a placebo. Seven years after the experiment, the researchers found […]
A possible explanation for visually vivid dreams during REM sleep
Researchers have found that during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep the human brain is responding in a way similar to visual processing during wakefulness. This may explain why individuals woken from REM sleep often report vivid dreams, and may reflect visual imagery during dreaming. The research team studied the activity of the medial temporal lobe […]
Black bears scared by drones
Black bears are scared by drones flying overhead, even though they do not appear startled to observers. Researchers flew a small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over wild American black bears outfitted with heart rate monitoring equipment and GPS trackers. They found that, although the bears appeared calm outwardly, their heart rate increased suddenly, jumping […]
Listening to music could help post-operative care
A meta-analysis has found that listening to music reduces postoperative pain, anxiety and reduces the use of painkillers, however the researchers found no effect upon the length of a patient’s stay. Researchers reviewed 73 randomized controlled trials of adult patients undergoing surgical procedures where music was initiated before, during or after surgery and was compared […]
Wild salmon reproduce better than hatchery ones
Hatchery salmons are often introduced into rivers to support wild populations, which are in an overall state of decline, but new research suggests this may not be an effective method. A study of 196 Coho salmons (Oncorhynchus kisutch) shows hatchery males have lower reproductive success than wild ones. When occupying the same position in the […]
Powerful aurora seen 18.5 light years away
Astronomers have detected auroral activity, seen on Earth as the Northern and Southern Lights, on a stellar object, believed to be a brown dwarf, outside of our Solar System. The team simultaneously detected radio and optical auroral emissions from the extrasolar body LSR J1853, located 5.67 parsecs or 18.5 light years away from our Sun. Additionally […]
Ants too have their guides
It takes a lot of coordination for a group to carry a large load together. It’s a rare ability in the animal world, but one shared by ants and humans. Like humans, longhorn crazy ants (Paratrechina longicornis) use individuals for steering the direction of the group. This collective movement appears to arise by the […]
T. Rex’s secret weapon: Revealing a unique tooth structure
The unique tooth structure of carnivorous theropods such as Tyrannosaurus rex allowed them to tear through the flesh and bones of other dinosaurs with ease, and likely led to their success according to new research. The research team found that the deeply serrated structure, and the special arrangement of tissue inside, strengthened the teeth and […]
An antibody against MERS
Researchers have found, for the first time, an antibody against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV), which has been responsible for over 1,300 human infections and over 450 deaths since it was first identified in 2012. The research team believes the antibody, known as LCA60, can be used to develop a monoclonal antibody against MERS-CoV that […]