Spider-web patterns to determine toxicity
In 1995 a group of NASA scientists repeated and refined some earlier tests on the effect that various drugs have on the web building abilities of the common garden spider. They tested the the effect of caffeine, benzedrine, marijuana and chloral hydrate and as you can see the results were pretty extreme!
Visions of the Brain in Vatican Fresco
Michelangelo was a conscientious student of human anatomy and enthusiastically dissected corpses throughout his life, but few of his anatomical drawings survive. This one, a depiction of the human brain and brain stem, appears to be drawn on the neck of God, directly above the altar in “The Separation of Light From Darkness,” another panel from the series of nine depicting scenes from the Book of Genesis.
God, clothed in flowing red robes, is viewed from below and foreshortened, and seems to be rising into the sky. His arms are raised above his head, and he faces up and to his right, exposing his neck and the underside of a short beard. It is here that the study’s authors, the medical illustrator Ian Suk and Dr. Rafael J. Tamargo, a neurosurgeon, believe that Michelangelo concealed a drawing of the underside of the brain and the brain stem, with parts of the temporal lobe, the medulla, the pons and other structures clearly drawn.
God’s beard, usually depicted as long and flowing, appears here short or rolled up to expose the neck. Light provides another hint. The fresco is illuminated from the lower left, but on God’s neck light shines head-on and slightly from the right. The authors insist that Michelangelo, a master of the depiction of light, could only have done this to draw attention to that part of the painting.
God, clothed in flowing red robes, is viewed from below and foreshortened, and seems to be rising into the sky. His arms are raised above his head, and he faces up and to his right, exposing his neck and the underside of a short beard. It is here that the study’s authors, the medical illustrator Ian Suk and Dr. Rafael J. Tamargo, a neurosurgeon, believe that Michelangelo concealed a drawing of the underside of the brain and the brain stem, with parts of the temporal lobe, the medulla, the pons and other structures clearly drawn.
God’s beard, usually depicted as long and flowing, appears here short or rolled up to expose the neck. Light provides another hint. The fresco is illuminated from the lower left, but on God’s neck light shines head-on and slightly from the right. The authors insist that Michelangelo, a master of the depiction of light, could only have done this to draw attention to that part of the painting.
Body shape affects memory
A woman's body shape may play a role in how good her memory is, according to a new study.
The more an older woman weighs, the worse her memory, according to research released this week from Northwestern Medicine at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
The effect is more pronounced in women who carry excess weight around their hips, known as pear shapes, than women who carry it around their waists, called apple shapes.
The reason pear-shaped women experienced more memory and brain function deterioration than apple-shaped women is likely related to the type of fat deposited around the hips versus the waist.
The more an older woman weighs, the worse her memory, according to research released this week from Northwestern Medicine at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
The effect is more pronounced in women who carry excess weight around their hips, known as pear shapes, than women who carry it around their waists, called apple shapes.
The reason pear-shaped women experienced more memory and brain function deterioration than apple-shaped women is likely related to the type of fat deposited around the hips versus the waist.
George W Bush on Facebook
Former US President George W Bush has created an account on the social networking website Facebook. His account was given the thumbs up, or "liked", by over 20,000 users within its first few hours.
Click here to go to his page.
Click here to go to his page.
Guillermo del Toro 'leaves' as director of The Hobbit
Guillermo del Toro will no longer direct the two movies based on JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit, reports said.
"In light of ongoing delays in the setting of a start date for filming The Hobbit, I am faced with the hardest decision of my life," he said.
However, del Toro added that he will continue to co-write the screenplays. The project - which has already been delayed for several years - is expected to last longer than originally expected.
Executive producer Peter Jackson reportedly said Del Toro could not commit to living in New Zealand for that long.
The Hobbit was due to be split into two films, both prequels to Jackson's Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy - to be released in 2012 and 2013.
"In light of ongoing delays in the setting of a start date for filming The Hobbit, I am faced with the hardest decision of my life," he said.
However, del Toro added that he will continue to co-write the screenplays. The project - which has already been delayed for several years - is expected to last longer than originally expected.
Executive producer Peter Jackson reportedly said Del Toro could not commit to living in New Zealand for that long.
The Hobbit was due to be split into two films, both prequels to Jackson's Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy - to be released in 2012 and 2013.
Cannes Winners
And the winners are:
- Palme d'Or - Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul
- Best director - Mathieu Amalric for On Tour
- Best actress - Juliette Binoche for Certified Copy
- Best actor- Javier Bardem for Biutiful and Elio Germano for Our Life (shared)
- Best screenplay - Lee Chang-Dong for Poetry
- Grand Prix - Of Gods and Men directed by Xavier Beauvois
- Jury Prize - A Screaming Man directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
- Palme d'Or - Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul
- Best director - Mathieu Amalric for On Tour
- Best actress - Juliette Binoche for Certified Copy
- Best actor- Javier Bardem for Biutiful and Elio Germano for Our Life (shared)
- Best screenplay - Lee Chang-Dong for Poetry
- Grand Prix - Of Gods and Men directed by Xavier Beauvois
- Jury Prize - A Screaming Man directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
Artificial Life
It's official. Scientists in the US have succeeded in developing the first living cell to be controlled entirely by synthetic DNA. The researchers constructed a bacterium's "genetic software" and transplanted it into a host cell. The resulting microbe then looked and behaved like the species "dictated" by the synthetic DNA.
The researchers copied an existing bacterial genome. They sequenced its genetic code and then used "synthesis machines" to chemically construct a copy.
Amazing. Of course, the ethical discussions are yet to come.
The researchers copied an existing bacterial genome. They sequenced its genetic code and then used "synthesis machines" to chemically construct a copy.
Amazing. Of course, the ethical discussions are yet to come.
A Mind Controlled Arm
Otto Bock Healthcare, has developed a mind-controlled technology, which is ready to leave the laboratory and be put to everyday use. It involves a new technique known as targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR), where nerves that once controlled a lost limb are used to control a prosthesis. The transplanted nerves allow electrical impulses from the brain to reach the muscles in the chest. The muscles act like a booster, amplifying the signal to a level that can be picked up by electrodes on the surface of the chest. These signals are interpreted by a micro-computer, and used to control a prosthesis which responds in real time to thoughts from the brain.
Nokia Sues Apple
This month, Nokia filed a lawsuit against Apple claiming the iPad 3G and iPhone infringe five of its patents. Nokia claims the infringements involve technology used to enhance speech and data transmission and antenna innovations for compact devices.
The Nokia lawsuit came on the day Apple announced that its iPad tablet computer will go on sale in nine countries outside the US on 28 May.
Go, Nokia!
The Nokia lawsuit came on the day Apple announced that its iPad tablet computer will go on sale in nine countries outside the US on 28 May.
Go, Nokia!
Artificial Muscles
Researchers engineered a polymer to reproduce the properties of titin - a protein which largely determines the elastic properties of muscle.
The authors suggest that the properties of this material could even be fine-tuned to resemble specific types of muscle by adjusting the compositions of the proteins.
Initially, the discovery could assist in the healing of tissue tears, acting as a tough stretchy scaffold that allows new tissue to grow across the wound.
The authors suggest that the properties of this material could even be fine-tuned to resemble specific types of muscle by adjusting the compositions of the proteins.
Initially, the discovery could assist in the healing of tissue tears, acting as a tough stretchy scaffold that allows new tissue to grow across the wound.
Lack of sleep linked to early death
Getting less than six hours sleep a night can lead to an early grave, UK and Italian researchers have warned.
They also found an association between sleeping for more than nine hours and early death, although that much sleep may merely be a marker of ill health.
Sleep journal reports the findings, based on 1.5m people in 16 studies.
The study looked at the relationship between sleep and mortality by reviewing earlier studies from the UK, US and European and East Asian countries.
Premature death from all causes was linked to getting either too little or too much sleep outside of the "ideal" six to eight hours per night.
Interesting... I understand why lack of sleep can be linked to early death, but sleeping for more than 8 hours...?
They also found an association between sleeping for more than nine hours and early death, although that much sleep may merely be a marker of ill health.
Sleep journal reports the findings, based on 1.5m people in 16 studies.
The study looked at the relationship between sleep and mortality by reviewing earlier studies from the UK, US and European and East Asian countries.
Premature death from all causes was linked to getting either too little or too much sleep outside of the "ideal" six to eight hours per night.
Interesting... I understand why lack of sleep can be linked to early death, but sleeping for more than 8 hours...?
Man Marries Cat
A German man has unofficially married his cat after the animal fell ill and vets told him it might not live much longer, Bild newspaper reports.
It says Uwe Mitzscherlich, 39, paid an actress 300 euros (£260,$395) to officiate at the ceremony, as marrying an animal is illegal in Germany.
Never heard of something like that before...
It says Uwe Mitzscherlich, 39, paid an actress 300 euros (£260,$395) to officiate at the ceremony, as marrying an animal is illegal in Germany.
Never heard of something like that before...
Wanted! Roman Polanski
Film director Roman Polanski, who is under house arrest in Switzerland, must be present in court in USA if he wants to resolve the case over a conviction for unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl. Polanski left the US in 1978 before he could be sentenced and never returned to US.
Polanski is afraid US wants to "serve him on a platter to the media of the world than to pronounce a judgment concerning which an agreement was reached 33 years ago."
Polanski directed the movies "The Ninth Gate", "The Pianist", "The Ghost Writer".
Polanski is afraid US wants to "serve him on a platter to the media of the world than to pronounce a judgment concerning which an agreement was reached 33 years ago."
Polanski directed the movies "The Ninth Gate", "The Pianist", "The Ghost Writer".
Prostate cancer vaccine approved
A "vaccine" which harnesses the body's own immune system to fight prostate cancer has been approved for use by US drug regulators.
The drug is not a "cure" but is used in advanced prostate cancer that has spread to other sites in the body and is no longer responding to standard hormone treatment.
Clinical trials showed that the treatment extended the lives of patients by four months.
The drug is not a "cure" but is used in advanced prostate cancer that has spread to other sites in the body and is no longer responding to standard hormone treatment.
Clinical trials showed that the treatment extended the lives of patients by four months.
Chocolate = Depression?
People who regularly eat chocolate are more depressive, experts have found. Research in Archives of Internal Medicine shows those who eat at least a bar every week are more glum than those who only eat chocolate now and again.
Many believe chocolate has the power to lift mood, and the US team say this may be true, although scientific proof for this is lacking.
Which means, when you are depressed, you eat chocolate and then you get more depressed and eat more chocolate and gain weight and get more depressed and ahhh..:)
Many believe chocolate has the power to lift mood, and the US team say this may be true, although scientific proof for this is lacking.
Which means, when you are depressed, you eat chocolate and then you get more depressed and eat more chocolate and gain weight and get more depressed and ahhh..:)
Aliens May Exist
Astrophysicist Stephen Hawking says aliens almost certainly exist but warns it would be a bad idea to contact them. He said that if extraterrestrials visited the planet the outcome would be similar to when Christopher Columbus landed in America, which, he added, didn't turn out well for the Native Americans.
Quite possible...
Quite possible...
Avatar Breaking Records
James Cameron's 3D sci-fi epic, released in the US on 22 April, sold 4 million DVDs and 2.7 million Blu-rays. The sales brought in $130m (£84.1m).
The previous record holder in the US and Canada was The Dark Knight in 2008.
It was released on 22 April - "Earth Day" in the US and Canada as well as other countries - to chime with Avatar's environmental theme.
The previous record holder in the US and Canada was The Dark Knight in 2008.
It was released on 22 April - "Earth Day" in the US and Canada as well as other countries - to chime with Avatar's environmental theme.
Icelandic Volcano Crisis
The Icelandic volcano crisis cost airlines more than USD 1.7 B in lost revenue through Tuesday—six days after the initial eruption, according to estimates of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For a three-day period (17-19 April), when disruptions were greatest, lost revenues reached USD 400 M per day.
Following 9/11, the US government provided USD 5 B to compensate airlines for the costs of grounding the fleet for three days. The European Commission also allowed European states to provide similar assistance.
No one was prepared for such an event. Isn't it funny how we take things for granted?
Following 9/11, the US government provided USD 5 B to compensate airlines for the costs of grounding the fleet for three days. The European Commission also allowed European states to provide similar assistance.
No one was prepared for such an event. Isn't it funny how we take things for granted?
Brazil Christ the Redeemer statue closed
Rio de Janeiro's towering Christ the Redeemer statue has been closed to the public after landslides that hit Brazil, killing some 250 people. The death toll may rise as 200 people are still missing, officials say.
Access to the statue was cut off for the first time in its 80-year history as roads were blocked by debris.
The landslides in and around Brazil's second biggest city were set off by downpours that began last Monday - the area's heaviest rainfall for decades.
Access to the statue was cut off for the first time in its 80-year history as roads were blocked by debris.
The landslides in and around Brazil's second biggest city were set off by downpours that began last Monday - the area's heaviest rainfall for decades.
Brain Multitasking
An inability to deal with more than two things at a time may be "hard-wired" into our brain, research suggests.
When we try to do two things at once, each half of the brain focuses on a separate task, French scientists say.
It might also explain why people are prone to make irrational decisions when choosing from a long list of items.
Lead author Dr Etienne Koechlin told the BBC: "You can cook and at the same time talk on the phone but you cannot really do a third task such as trying to read a newspaper. If you have three or more tasks you lose track of one task."
When the volunteers completed one task at a time, one side of a certain area of the frontal lobes lit up.
But, when they completed two tasks at the same time, the lobes divided the tasks between them.
The brain was able to control switching between the two hemispheres when carrying out dual functions but accuracy suffered when a third was added.
[source:bbc.co.uk]
When we try to do two things at once, each half of the brain focuses on a separate task, French scientists say.
It might also explain why people are prone to make irrational decisions when choosing from a long list of items.
Lead author Dr Etienne Koechlin told the BBC: "You can cook and at the same time talk on the phone but you cannot really do a third task such as trying to read a newspaper. If you have three or more tasks you lose track of one task."
When the volunteers completed one task at a time, one side of a certain area of the frontal lobes lit up.
But, when they completed two tasks at the same time, the lobes divided the tasks between them.
The brain was able to control switching between the two hemispheres when carrying out dual functions but accuracy suffered when a third was added.
[source:bbc.co.uk]
