Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for April 1, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Long lost cousin of T. rex identified by scientists- Quantum mapmakers complete first voyage through spin liquid
- Group sets plans for largest radio telescope ever
- Earth's gravity revealed in unprecedented detail (w/ video)
- Dark matter could provide heat for starless planets
- SIM-Drive Corp announces new 'in-wheel' electric car
- 14 quantum bits: Physicists go beyond the limits of what is currently possible in quantum computation
- A new method for measuring X-ray optics aberrations
- Keck telescope images super-luminous supernova
- New hope for the cure: Drug combination targets aggressive triple-negative breast cancer
- Quick 'cool' facts about NASA's Webb Telescope on video
- When food is scarce, hungry female spiders alter mating preferences
- French chess team cheated via text
- 'SKIP'-ing splicing forces tumor cells to undergo programmed cell death
- Vestas Announces New 7 megawatt offshore wind turbine
Space & Earth news
Image: Celestial Mountains
(PhysOrg.com) -- The Tien Shan mountain range is one of the largest continuous mountain ranges in the world, extending approximately 1,550 miles (2,500 kilometers) roughly east-west across Central Asia.
Office of Naval Research supports exercise at Arctic test range
From collecting data on the environment to testing undersea communications, Ice Exercise 2011 (ICEX 2011), which runs March 15 through April 2, includes several Office of Naval Research (ONR) projects designed to improve naval operations in the Arctic.
European space scout
The growing quantity of space debris is a serious threat to satellites and other spacecraft, which risk being damaged or even destroyed. A new European space surveillance system is being developed to ward off the danger of collisions in orbit. Fraunhofer researchers are supplying the receiver for the radar demonstrator system.
EarthScope Seismic Sensors Head East of the Mississippi
Most seismic activity--and earthquakes--have been in the U.S. West. But the East is not out of the woods in terms of risk, geologists say.
Spring is fireball season
What are the signs of spring? They are as familiar as a blooming Daffodil, a songbird at dawn, a surprising shaft of warmth from the afternoon sun. And, oh yes, don't forget the meteors.
Germany's radioactive boars a legacy of Chernobyl
(AP) -- For a look at just how long radioactivity can hang around, consider Germany's wild boars.
Flotsam from Japan's tsunami to hit US West Coast
(AP) -- John Anderson has discovered just about everything during the 30 years he's combed Washington state's beaches - glass fishing floats, hockey gloves, bottled messages, even hundreds of mismatched pairs of Nike sneakers that washed up barnacled but otherwise unworn.
Soyuz launch site ready for first flight
(PhysOrg.com) -- The Soyuz site at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana is now ready for its first launch. ESA yesterday handed over the complex to Arianespace, marking a major step towards this year’s inaugural flight.
Earth from space: Central Europe
(PhysOrg.com) -- This Envisat image features an almost cloud-free look at a large portion of Europe. The Alps, with its white peaks, stand out in contrast against the vast areas still covered in brownish winter foliage.
Keeping astronauts safe from meteroids
Every day, about 100 tons of meteoroids bombard the Earth's atmosphere. These tiny particles can cause serious damage to spacecraft and astronauts alike. So how do we ensure the safety of space explorers and the important scientific experiments in orbit around our planet?
Saturn only visible planet through the month of April
(PhysOrg.com) -- For those who enjoy viewing clusters of planets, the evening sky in April may be a bit disappointing. Saturn will be the only planet visible for most of the night, until the sky starts to brighten toward dawn.
Conewago Creek may hold key for cleaning up Chesapeake
(PhysOrg.com) -- As Pennsylvania streams go, Conewago Creek in Dauphin, Lebanon and Lancaster counties is really nothing special. But remember the name, because it could hold the key to cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay.
Salt-seeking spacecraft arrives at launch site
(PhysOrg.com) -- An international spacecraft that will take NASA's first space-based measurements of ocean surface salinity has arrived at its launch site at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The Aquarius/SAC-D mission will provide scientists with a key missing variable in satellite observations of Earth that links ocean circulation, the global balance of freshwater and climate.
Keck telescope images super-luminous supernova
(PhysOrg.com) -- The Keck I Telescope has played a key role in unraveling the mysteries of one of the brightest supernovas ever discovered.
Quick 'cool' facts about NASA's Webb Telescope on video
Interested in learning some quick facts about NASA's next-generation space telescope? NASA has created a short video to show you just how literally "cool" the James Webb Space Telescope really is. For one thing, Webb's infrared detectors will be cryogenically cooled to roughly –370F (-224C)!
Earth's gravity revealed in unprecedented detail (w/ video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- After just two years in orbit, ESA's GOCE satellite has gathered enough data to map Earth's gravity with unrivalled precision. Scientists now have access to the most accurate model of the 'geoid' ever produced to further our understanding of how Earth works.
Group sets plans for largest radio telescope ever
(PhysOrg.com) -- Proving that a lot of little things can go a long way, a group of astronomers have revealed plans to build and install a radio telescope array out of thousands of small inexpensive dishes, spread out over thousands of miles of remote territory.
Technology news
Top Indian scientist calls for nuclear moratorium
A top Indian scientist and government advisor has called for a moratorium on all future nuclear projects following the nuclear crisis in tsunami-hit Japan.
Parody blooms on Twitter
Twitter is becoming the place for parody with a cast of characters that includes an elusive cobra, a tipsy Queen of England, a profanity-spewing US politician and a maladroit BP spokesman.
Giant batteries for green power
In the future, the growing amounts of solar and wind energy will need to be stored for dark or low-wind periods. One solution is redox flow batteries that can supply current for up to 2000 households. Several Fraunhofer Institutes are working jointly on these fluid batteries of the future. The researchers will present their large battery installation at the Hannover Messe (April 4-8, 2011).
Lightning-fast materials testing using ultrasound
For years, ultrasound has proven to be a valuable tool in non-destructive materials testing. However, the demands of modern production conditions are increasing all the time. Researchers at Fraunhofer have now developed a new, more reliable process that delivers testing results at a rate that is up to a hundredfold higher.
Extreme testing for rotor blades
Wind turbines are growing bigger and bigger – the diameter of their rotor blades could soon reach 180 meters. But that creates a need for larger test rigs capable of accommodating the blades for load testing. One of the largest-ever experimental test rigs, for blades measuring up to 90 meters in length, will shortly go into operation.
Ride-sharing for road freight
Around 20 percent of trucks on German roads are traveling empty, at a huge cost to the transportation companies concerned. Also from an ecological and traffic-management standpoint, it would be better if such journeys could be avoided. A new auction platform aims to improve truck space utilization.
NXP releases world's smallest logic packages for handheld mobility
NXP Semiconductors today announced the world’s smallest logic plastic packages measuring 0.9 x 1.0 x 0.35 mm with 0.3 mm pitch.
CenturyLink completes $12.2B acquisition of Qwest
(AP) -- CenturyLink says it has completed its purchase of Qwest, combining the country's third- and fourth-largest traditional phone companies into one.
Crash sensor boosts safety in warehouses
For reasons of workplace safety, storage shelves in warehouses are subjected to routine testing of their stability. These inspection rounds are time-consuming and deliver just a snapshot in time. Researchers have devised a wireless, sensor-based system to provide continuous monitoring of the condition of storage shelves.
Rotten meat doesn't stand a chance
When it comes to packaged fish or meat, it is nearly impossible to distinguish between fresh goods and their inedible counterparts. Researchers have now developed a sensor film that can be integrated into the package itself, where it takes over the role of quality control. And if the food has spoiled, it changes color to announce the fact.
Turks defy book ban on Internet
A draft book banned as part of a controversial coup probe in Turkey has been published online, prompting a prosecutor to launch a fresh investigation, media reports said Friday.
Acer pledges efforts to rebound amid slowing sales
(AP) -- Taiwan's Acer Inc. has pledged to meet new challenges in the slowing PC market after it replaced its top executive as sales fall amid competition from tablets and other devices.
Interview: Catching up with Twitter's Biz Stone
(AP) -- When Twitter turned five years old on March 21, co-founder Isaac "Biz" Stone was on the road celebrating with some of the popular short messaging service's famous users. In the past two weeks, he has appeared on the shows of Conan O'Brien, Howard Stern and Martha Stewart among others. He also made a special stop in Chicago just to take out Twitter's employees there for drinks - a pastime he calls "beersonbiz."
Human-powered drill for clean water in developing nations built by student engineers
(PhysOrg.com) -- The contraption looks like a spear that impaled a wheel of fortune, but it does more than give contestants a chance to buy a vowel or solve the puzzle. The device is actually a human-powered drill built by a team of BYU engineering students, who hope it will help Tanzanians drill the 250 feet required to access clean drinking water.
Short rotation energy crops could help meet UK's renewable energy targets
Planting short rotation energy crops on England's unused agricultural land could produce enough biomass to meet renewable energy targets without disrupting the food industry or the environment, according to research led by Professor Gail Taylor from the University of Southampton.
April Fools' Day noted online with spoof redesigns
(AP) -- The online world got an April Fools' Day makeover as YouTube rolled out 1911 viral videos and the Huffington Post put up a mock pay wall.
Streaming music gathers steam from tech titans, startups alike
The founders of Skype are betting that a musical era is ending - that chapter where people stored their music in digital files on a computer hard drive, an era that began in 2001 with Apple's iTunes.
Facebook Landing Team transports company culture
AUSTIN, Texas - As Facebook evolves from insular Silicon Valley start-up to a global company with a necklace of offices around the planet, it is relying on a key tool to extend its unique culture - the Landing Team.
Affectiva technology taps into people's emotions
Computers may soon understand people better than their spouses do, courtesy of innovations from startup Affectiva that expand on groundbreaking sensing research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Nestle adds augmented reality to cereal boxes
Nestle is out to boost its share of the global breakfast cereal market with a dose of augmented reality supplied by French technology firm Dassault Systemes.
Secure, synchronized, social TV
Network coding is an innovative new approach to network design that promises much more efficient use of bandwidth, and MIT researchers have made seminal contributions to its development. But in recent work, some of those researchers have concentrated on a different application of the same technology: secure communication. Media companies have shown interest in the new work as a means of simultaneously protecting their content and their customers’ privacy.
French chess team cheated via text
(PhysOrg.com) -- We all want to get ahead, but how many of us are willing to cheat to do it? As it turns out, when the stakes are high, cheating really isn't that uncommon. Sadly, we have come to see cheating as commonplace when it is done by professional athletes or politicians, but when you think about cheating, chess probably isn't the first place that comes to mind.
Advance in microchannel manufacturing opens new industry applications
Engineers at Oregon State University have invented a new way to use surface-mount adhesives in the production of low-temperature, microchannel heat exchangers - an advance that will make this promising technology much less expensive for many commercial applications.
Google gets into April Fool's with 'Gmail Motion'
Google joined in the April Fool's pranks on Friday with the release of a new product called "Gmail Motion" that supposedly lets users send and receive emails using only gestures.
The Predator system helps the disabled to use computers (w/ video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- If I told you about something called the Predator system, what would come to mind? The first thing that comes to this reporter's mind is The Predator that was made famous in the film of the same name. So, you can how distress is a natural reaction when you hear that someone is developing one right here on earth.
Vestas Announces New 7 megawatt offshore wind turbine
(PhysOrg.com) -- Vestas Chief Executive Officer Ditlev Engel announced in London their new V164 wind turbine, designed specifically for offshore wind power. Optimized for conditions in the North Sea, Vestas surprised everyone with their announcement of the new seven megawatt turbine, as the announcement was only expected to be of a six megawatt turbine.
SIM-Drive Corp announces new 'in-wheel' electric car
(PhysOrg.com) -- SIM-Drive Corporation, a Japanese consortium based in Kawasaki-shi and comprised of 34 companies and municipalities, has announced that it has developed a functioning electric car based on in-wheel electric motor technology.
Medicine & Health news
New studies provide beneficial insights expanding the pool of liver grafts and transplants
Berlin, Germany, 01 April 2011: Findings from two new studies presented today at the International Liver CongressTM confirm that there are options for clinicians to expand the pool of liver grafts for use in patients with liver disease.
New tool allows for an alternate method of prostate cancer diagnosis
Researchers have found that it may not be necessary to look for tumors directly in patients with prostate cancer — analyzing non-tumor tissue may be an effective option, according to study results published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Screening does not reduce prostate cancer deaths
Screening does not significantly reduce prostate cancer deaths, but the risk of overdetection and overtreatment is considerable, concludes a 20-year study published in the British Medical Journal today.
A national survey: The value of otolaryngologists' services in America
In recent years reimbursement for surgical services has declined, failing to keep up with inflation and economic growth. Financial incentives aimed at re-distributing reimbursement from procedural specialties to primary care specialties have been ineffective thus far, and the financial returns of being a physician continue to decrease, according to new research published in the April 2011 issue of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.
New lung cancer staging system (TNM 7) better predicts local/regional recurrence, study shows
The new TNM 7 lung cancer staging system seems to be a better predictor of local or regional recurrence of lung cancer following surgery, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology.
Internet program reduces infant and toddler sleep problems, helps moms sleep better too
A study in the April 1 issue of the journal Sleep demonstrates that an Internet-based intervention was effective at reducing infant and toddler sleep disturbances, as well as providing positive, indirect benefits for maternal sleep, mood and confidence. The study suggests that the Internet can give parents widespread access to individualized, behaviorally based advice for sleep problems in young children.
Remote Nigerian village becomes front line in measles fight
One of the front lines of global health is in this dusty northern Nigerian village, where a man dressed in a turban and caftan walks the streets, delivering a warning through a megaphone.
Price slashed for drug to prevent preemie birth
(AP) -- The price of an expensive drug to prevent early births has been cut by more than half.
Welsh girls to get morning-after pill for free
(AP) -- Women and girls as young as 13 in Wales can get the morning-after pill free without a prescription from pharmacies, beginning Friday.
Skywalker ensures optimal communication between neurons
Patrik Verstreken (VIB/K.U.Leuven, Belgium) has discovered the mechanism that ensures neurons can continue to send the right signals for long consecutive periods - a process that is disrupted in neurological diseases such as Parkinson's. Verstreken and his colleagues discovered that an enzyme called Skywalker controls the subtle balance in communication.
Breast health global initiative offers unprecedented tools for developing nations
A landmark breast health care publication reveals a multitude of barriers that keep women of developing nations from being screened and treated for breast cancer – but offers tools to help countries improve their breast care programs.
Recovery Act-funded jobs program helps high school grads who have ASD
JobTIPS, a free, Web-based program unveiled today, aims to help youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other disabilities develop and maintain skills needed for successful employment. Supported through the Recovery Act with a grant for just under $1 million over two years from the National Institutes of Health, this resource targets a critical transition period as teenagers leave the school system, which is usually their primary source of ASD-related services throughout childhood.
Neurologist can help with sleep problems
Having trouble sleeping? A neurologist could have the answer to your problem.
The future looks bright for HCV patients who have failed to respond to current treatments
Berlin, Germany, Friday 1st April 2011: Highly anticipated data from a number of clinical trials presented for the first time at the International Liver CongressTM confirmed that a range of new proteases inhibitors will help treat patients who have previously failed therapy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.1,2,3,4,5
A new experimental diagnostic test able to quickly distinguish infection from tuberculosis disease
A potential new experimental diagnostic test able to quickly distinguish individuals with active tuberculosis (TB) from those with latent TB infection has been developed. If the preliminary results of the study will be confirmed in a larger population sample, the new diagnostic system could allow more effective strategies to control the spread of the re-emerging pathology.
First vaccine for viral hepatitis C could become a reality
Berlin, Germany, Friday 01 April 2011: Early data from phase I trials of an HCV vaccine presented today at the International Liver CongressTM show encouraging results, with high immunogenicity and good safety profile.1,2
Surprising finding from smoke inhalation study
An award-winning Loyola University Health System study includes some unexpected findings about the immune systems of smoke-inhalation patients.
Soy increases radiation's ability to kill lung cancer cells, study shows
A component in soybeans increases radiation's ability to kill lung cancer cells, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the official monthly journal of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.
Regular breakfast helps reduce lead poisoning in children
It is known that fasting increases lead absorption in adults and consequently regular meals and snacks are recommended for children to prevent lead poisoning. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Environmental Health demonstrates that having a regular breakfast is associated with lower blood lead levels in children.
Risk of death is high in older adults with sleep apnea and daytime sleepiness
A study in the April 1 issue of the journal Sleep suggests that the risk of death is more than two times higher in older adults who have sleep apnea and report struggling with excessive daytime sleepiness.
Brain scans reveal differences in brain structure in teenagers with severe antisocial behavior
Brain scans of aggressive and antisocial teenage boys with conduct disorder (CD) have revealed differences in the structure of the developing brain that could link to their behaviour problems.
Brain research reveals possible causes of sudden infant death syndrome
New research published today in The Journal of Physiology sheds light on areas of the brain thought to be the root cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) – the poorly understood condition also known as 'cot death'.
Experts say don't worry about radiation in US milk
(AP) -- So now Japan's radioactive fallout is showing up in milk on the U.S. West Coast. Not to worry, though. It turns out that traces of radioactivity are in many foods we eat, the air we breathe and the water we swim in.
1 in 4 overweight or obese adults don't believe they have a problem
(PhysOrg.com) -- When it comes to losing weight, perception is not always reality - in fact, it's often a major hurdle.
Older bereaved 'die of broken immune system not broken heart'
(PhysOrg.com) -- Immunity experts at the University of Birmingham have found biological evidence to suggest that bereavement lowers physical immunity, putting older people at risk of life-threatening infections.
Placing value, price on new drugs: The challenge facing new UK policy, say Hopkins bioethicists
The United States should pay close attention to how the United Kingdom carries out plans to assess a new drug's worth using factors that go beyond clinical and cost effectiveness, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics.
New findings of early onset eating disorders
(PhysOrg.com) -- Early-onset eating disorders affect about 3 in every 100,000 children under the age of 13, according to a new study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.
Researchers discover microRNA role in brain metastasis
Conducting genetic profiles using microRNA can help doctors predict which lung cancer patients are likely to also develop brain metastasis (BM), according to a study published today by Scottsdale Healthcare and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).
In the absence of vitamin A, the body loses immune cells that put the brakes on the earliest stages of infection
Scientists have recognized the immune-boosting capabilities of vitamin A for the better part of a century, even without fully understanding how it helps the body fight off bacteria and viruses. "Soon after its discovery, vitamin A was termed ‘the anti-infective vitamin’ and was widely used to enhance recovery; but with the introduction of antibiotics, the therapeutic use of vitamin A diminished," says Sidonia Fagarasan of the RIKEN Center for Allergy and Immunology in Yokohama, Japan.
Parents trust doctors most when it comes to information about vaccine safety
Most parents get their information about vaccines from their children's doctors, but some also consider public health officials, other parents, friends and family members and even celebrities as sources of vaccine information.
CDC issues updated bloodstream infection prevention guidelines
New guidelines, released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) outline steps to eliminate bloodstream infections in patients with intravenous catheters, which are among the most deadly and costly healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
Watch your language! Of course-But how do we actually do that?
Nothing seems more automatic than speech. We produce an estimated 150 words a minute, and make a mistake only about once every 1,000 words. We stay on track, saying what we intend to, even when other words distract us—from the radio, say, or a road sign we pass while driving.
Regenerative medicine success for muscles
(PhysOrg.com) -- An innovative strategy for regenerating skeletal muscle tissue using cells from the recipient’s own body is outlined in UCL research published today.
Insulin could be Alzheimer's therapy
A low dose of insulin has been found to suppress the expression in the blood of four precursor proteins involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, according to new clinical research by University at Buffalo endocrinologists. The research, published in March online in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, suggests that insulin could have a powerful, new role to play in fighting Alzheimer's disease.
Got a craving for fast food? Skip the coffee, study says
Eating a fatty fast food meal is never good for you, but washing that meal down with a coffee is even worse, according to a new University of Guelph study.
Major advance for bionic eye
(PhysOrg.com) -- University of New South Wales researchers have unveiled the microchip which is expected to power Australiaэs first bionic eye.
'SKIP'-ing splicing forces tumor cells to undergo programmed cell death
When cells find themselves in a tight spot, the cell cycle regulator p21 halts the cell cycle, buying cells time to repair the damage, or if all else fails, to initiate programmed cell death. In contrast to other stress-induced genes, which dispense with the regular transcriptional entourage, p21Cip1 still requires SKIP, a transcription elongation factor that also helps with the editing of transcripts, to be expressed, found researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
Paying the painful price for friendship
(PhysOrg.com) -- People will suffer more pain for their close friends than for their acquaintances and sometimes more than they would for themselves, an Oxford University scientist has found.
New hope for the cure: Drug combination targets aggressive triple-negative breast cancer
(PhysOrg.com) -- With currently available early-detection methods for breast cancer, many people can be treated successfully. But for the 20 percent of patients with so-called triple-negative breast cancer, the outcome is bleak. Now, however, researchers from Harvard Medical School (HMS) and Baylor College of Medicine have identified a critical molecular component to the disease, one that suggests potential therapies involving combinations of FDA-approved, readily available drugs.
Biology news
Manage biological invasions like natural disasters, biologists say
Biological invasions get less prime-time coverage than natural disasters, but may be more economically damaging and warrant corresponding investments in preparedness and response planning, according to three biologists writing in the April issue of BioScience.
Huge ivory haul seized in Thailand
Thai customs said on Friday they had seized two tonnes of ivory worth over $3.3 million hidden in a shipment of frozen fish -- equivalent to more than 120 elephants killed.
Sleeping through danger: the dormouse approach to survival
Amid the general rejoicing over the first signs of spring, spare a thought for the humble dormouse, which is about to embark on the most dangerous period of its life. This is the surprising finding of a long-term study of dormouse survival rates in five different countries in Europe, coordinated by the group of Thomas Ruf at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna. The results have recently been published online by the journal Ecography.
Climate change and evolution of Cross River gorillas
Two species of gorillas live in central equatorial Africa. Divergence between the Western gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) and Eastern Gorillas (G. beringei) began between 0.9 and 1.6 million years ago and now the two species live several hundred kilometres apart. New research published by BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Evolutionary Biology shows that the divergence of Western lowland gorillas and the Critically Endangered Cross River gorillas (G. g. diehli) occurred more recently, about 17,800 years ago, during the Pleistocene era.
Lawmakers try to lift wolf protection despite deal
(AP) -- Key lawmakers in the political skirmish over gray wolves in the West say they will continue their efforts to lift federal protections for the predators, despite a proposed settlement between environmentalists and the government.
UGA studies explain spread of invasive ladybugs
A University of Georgia researcher studying invasive ladybugs has developed new models that help explain how these insects have spread so quickly and their potential impacts on native species.
E. coli an unlikely contaminant of plant vascular systems
A technique developed by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists for tracking pathogens has helped confirm that Escherichia coli is not likely to contaminate the internal vascular structure of field-grown leafy greens and thus increase the incidence of foodborne illness.
Beetle may pack a big punch in curbing salt cedar
(PhysOrg.com) -- Non-native vegetation’s infiltration to the greater Southwest has caused its share of ecosystem concerns over the years. Now Heather Bateman is looking at the effectiveness of some of the methods employed to help control invasive species, especially salt cedar, along the Virgin River.
Why stem cells don't just want to make neurons
Research being presented today at the UK National Stem Cell Network annual science conference provides another piece in the puzzle of why it can be so hard to produce large numbers of the same type of cell in the lab – a process that is vital for scaling up stem cell production for therapeutic use. This knowledge will help researchers to develop strategies for obtaining the desired cell type for use in either research or medicine.
Hibernators live longer mainly because they escape predators
(PhysOrg.com) -- Small animals generally live shorter lives than larger animals, but those that hibernate are an exception, primarily because they escape predation during the winter, according to a new study by scientists from Austria. Hibernating animals also reproduce more slowly than non-hibernating animals.
Experts reveal why plants don't get sunburn
(PhysOrg.com) -- Experts at the University of Glasgow have discovered how plants know when to make their own sunscreen to protect themselves from the harmful rays of the sun. Scientists have speculated for decades that plants must have a 'photoreceptor' for UV-B wavelengths in sunlight, similar to those they use to detect other wavelengths which control other processes, such as triggering when they flower.
Fruit fly antennae are tuned in
(PhysOrg.com) -- The antennal ears of different fruit fly species are actively tuned to high-frequency components of their respective mating songs, according to new research led by University College London scientists.
When food is scarce, hungry female spiders alter mating preferences
(PhysOrg.com) -- Weather and environmental change can bring alterations – and scarcity – in food resources. In looking at how such changes might affect mating choices and subsequent reproduction, University of Cincinnati researchers studied how hunger affects the mating preferences of common female spiders.
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