Why Some Males Evolved to Be Small and Sneaky
“Bigger males may get a lot of attention, but sometimes being smaller—and sneakier—is more successful when it comes to mating. In the East African cichlid fish, Lamprologus callipterus, males come in two sizes: giants or dwarves that are 40 times smaller than their beefier rivals. (Watch a video of male cichlid fish fighting.) It’s an example of male polymorphism, a phenomenon in which males of the same species take different forms. Though people vary in height, men don’t come in two different sizes like the cichlids. Several research studies suggest that tall men—those over 5’7″—are more successful in dating and in their careers—but they get divorced at higher rates.” National Geographic (9/18)
“Warning: The 21st century may get a lot more crowded than previously thought. In a paper published Thursday in Science, demographers from several universities and the United Nations Population Division conclude that instead of leveling off in the second half of the 21st century, as the UN predicted less than a decade ago, the world's population will continue to grow beyond 2100. (Read "Population Seven Billion" in National Geographic magazine.)” National Geographic (9/18)
“The whitebark pine grows in the high, cold reaches of the Rocky and Sierra Mountains, and some individuals, wind-bent and tenacious, manage to thrive for more than a thousand years. Despite its hardiness, the species may not survive much longer. A lethal fungus is decimating the pines, as are voracious mountain pine beetles. Making matters worse, forest managers have suppressed the fires that are required to stimulate whitebark pine seedlings.” NY Times (9/18)
“On a frigid day last February, Maren Friesen drove eight hours across snow-covered plains to Centralia, Pennsylvania. A fire ignited a seam of coal below the town in 1962, and more than 60 years later it's still smoldering away underground. The place is a steaming, smoldering wasteland—one that may hold a key to feeding the world. Friesen, a microbiologist, is on a hunt for a microbe thought to live in these strange, hot soils. The humble bacterium has an unusual ability that may help farmers grow more crops.” National Geographic (9/18)
Dogs show signs of pessimism, study suggests
Dogs, often thought of as eternal optimists, can be pessimists too, according to a study published in PLOS ONE. Researchers taught a group of dogs to identify two specific tones, associating one with tasty milk and the other with plain water, then introduced a third tone to see if the dogs would respond enthusiastically, as if expecting milk, or not respond at all. The unresponsive, or pessimistic, dogs were more cautious and easily discouraged, researchers say. Discovery (9/18)
Dogs, often thought of as eternal optimists, can be pessimists too, according to a study published in PLOS ONE. Researchers taught a group of dogs to identify two specific tones, associating one with tasty milk and the other with plain water, then introduced a third tone to see if the dogs would respond enthusiastically, as if expecting milk, or not respond at all. The unresponsive, or pessimistic, dogs were more cautious and easily discouraged, researchers say. Discovery (9/18)
Scientists identify molecule that boosts stem cells in cord blood
Researchers from the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer at the University of Montreal announced the discovery of the molecule UM171 that could be used to multiply cultured cord blood stem cells by a factor of 10. The method could be used to make cord blood stem cells a viable transplant option for adults, and a clinical study of the molecule is scheduled to begin this year. The findings were reported in the journal Science. Medical News Today (9/18)
Researchers from the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer at the University of Montreal announced the discovery of the molecule UM171 that could be used to multiply cultured cord blood stem cells by a factor of 10. The method could be used to make cord blood stem cells a viable transplant option for adults, and a clinical study of the molecule is scheduled to begin this year. The findings were reported in the journal Science. Medical News Today (9/18)
Ancient Roman fort found in Germany
The remnants of a 1,900-year-old Roman fort have been found in the German town of Gernsheim. Researchers had long suspected a fort existed in the area, which once was the site of a village in the first to third centuries, but until now no fort had been found. "It was assumed that this settlement had to have been based on a fort, since it was customary for the families of the soldiers to live outside the fort in a village-like settlement," said archaeologist Thomas Maurer of the University of Frankfurt. LiveScience.com (9/18)
The remnants of a 1,900-year-old Roman fort have been found in the German town of Gernsheim. Researchers had long suspected a fort existed in the area, which once was the site of a village in the first to third centuries, but until now no fort had been found. "It was assumed that this settlement had to have been based on a fort, since it was customary for the families of the soldiers to live outside the fort in a village-like settlement," said archaeologist Thomas Maurer of the University of Frankfurt. LiveScience.com (9/18)
Remains of pre-Civil War slaves found at renovation site at Nashville Zoo
Human remains found during a renovation at the Nashville Zoo appear to have belonged to slaves buried between 1820 and 1850 in a cemetery on what was once known as the Grassmere farm. An analysis of nine of the skeletons shows that they were African-Americans and each showed signs of having lives of hard labor. Archaeologists and zoo officials have reburied the remains found in the site's 19 graves in another area of the zoo and hope to create exhibits "to tell exactly who these people were, to what extent that we know," said the zoo's historic site manager Tori Mason.The Tennessean (Nashville) (tiered subscription model) (9/18)
Human remains found during a renovation at the Nashville Zoo appear to have belonged to slaves buried between 1820 and 1850 in a cemetery on what was once known as the Grassmere farm. An analysis of nine of the skeletons shows that they were African-Americans and each showed signs of having lives of hard labor. Archaeologists and zoo officials have reburied the remains found in the site's 19 graves in another area of the zoo and hope to create exhibits "to tell exactly who these people were, to what extent that we know," said the zoo's historic site manager Tori Mason.The Tennessean (Nashville) (tiered subscription model) (9/18)
Disc galaxies can form from massive collisions, study finds
Several collisions between galaxies can result in the creation of disc galaxies like the Milky Way, according to research published in the Astrophysical Journal Supplement. Researchers were surprised by their findings after studying colliding galaxies 40 million to 600 million light-years from Earth, believing that only elliptical galaxies were born during mergers. "This is a large and unexpected step towards understanding the mystery of the birth of disc galaxies," said Junko Ueda of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and the lead researcher. Space.com (9/17)
Several collisions between galaxies can result in the creation of disc galaxies like the Milky Way, according to research published in the Astrophysical Journal Supplement. Researchers were surprised by their findings after studying colliding galaxies 40 million to 600 million light-years from Earth, believing that only elliptical galaxies were born during mergers. "This is a large and unexpected step towards understanding the mystery of the birth of disc galaxies," said Junko Ueda of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and the lead researcher. Space.com (9/17)
Strange signal detected on space station could offer clues to dark matter
Evidence of the existence of dark matter may have been found by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer particle detector on the International Space Station. The AMS has detected an unknown signal that researchers think is a neutralino, a dark matter particle. While researchers have stopped short of saying they've found definitive proof of dark matter, "we still need to measure how quickly the positron fraction falls off at the highest energies in order to rule out astrophysical sources such as pulsars," said Samuel Ting of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and CERN, and lead AMS researcher. Discovery (9/18)
Evidence of the existence of dark matter may have been found by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer particle detector on the International Space Station. The AMS has detected an unknown signal that researchers think is a neutralino, a dark matter particle. While researchers have stopped short of saying they've found definitive proof of dark matter, "we still need to measure how quickly the positron fraction falls off at the highest energies in order to rule out astrophysical sources such as pulsars," said Samuel Ting of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and CERN, and lead AMS researcher. Discovery (9/18)
