:)
Sunday, 30 June 2013
I can't see the forest through the trees, except the trees are people.
I can't see the forest through the trees, except the trees are people.
For the first time, scientists at Carnegie Mellon University have identified which emotion a person is experiencing...
For the first time, scientists at Carnegie Mellon University have identified which emotion a person is experiencing based on brain activity. The study combined fMRI and machine learning to measure brain signals to accurately read emotions in individuals. This work builds on previous discoveries which used similar techniques to create a computational model that identifies individuals’ thoughts of concrete objects.
More info: http://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2013/june/june19_identifyingemotions.html
A central, unanswered question of neuroscience is how exactly different areas of the cerebral cortex communicate to...
A central, unanswered question of neuroscience is how exactly different areas of the cerebral cortex communicate to process sensory stimuli and produce appropriate behavior. New work by researchers that explores the sense of touch in mice provides some answers: the processing of sensory information is goal-directed and depends on what you want to achieve. Specifically, the researchers observed that nerve cells in the sensory cortex that connect to distinct brain areas are activated differentially depending on the task to be solved.
Image: Nerve cells in the primary somatosensory area (S1) of the mouse’s cerebral cortex. Cells dyed violet project to the secondary somatosensory area (S2), cells dyed blue to the motor cortex (M1). The strength of the schematic representation of the communication between the areas depends on the tasks to be performed: left, sandpaper differentiation; right, localization problem.
More info: http://www.mediadesk.uzh.ch/articles/2013/problemloesen-lenkt-die-verarbeitung-von-sinneseindruecken_en.html
“Recognize that the very molecules that make up your body, the atoms that construct the molecules, are traceable to...
“Recognize that the very molecules that make up your body, the atoms that construct the molecules, are traceable to the crucibles that were once the centers of high mass stars that exploded their chemically rich guts into the galaxy, enriching pristine gas clouds with the chemistry of life.
So that we are all connected to each other biologically,
to the earth chemically, and to the rest of the universe atomically. That’s kinda cool! That makes me smile and I actually feel quite large at the end of that. It’s not that we are better than the universe, we are part of the universe.
"We are in the universe and the universe is in us.”
― Neil deGrasse Tyson
A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom...
A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom...
I'm taking a moment to say thank you to this brave man for every life he saved.
Thank u, Sir!
This day in science .. The Tunguska event June 30 1908
This day in science .. The Tunguska event June 30 1908
http://earthsky.org/space/what-is-the-tunguska-explosion
http://earthsky.org/space/what-is-the-tunguska-explosion
Ha! just go ahead and watch me stop suddenly at 80km/h :))))
Ha! just go ahead and watch me stop suddenly at 80km/h :))))
Recently I saw a lot of people feeding bread to ducks on the lakes.
Recently I saw a lot of people feeding bread to ducks on the lakes.
Feeding bread to wild ducks is incredibly harmful. Bread has almost no nutrients that are useful for the duck, so they become malnourished and more susceptible to disease. Compounding the problem is excessive bread in the water, which leads to high levels of E. coli and even botulism outbreaks. Wild ducks need to stay wild, and artificially feeding them causes them to lose their natural instincts for acquiring food.
If you want to feed captive waterfowl, consider chopped vegetables, whole grains, or fruit instead
Please share this and stop feeding waterfowl, thanks :)
More info: http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7001.html
It turns out that blood vessels aren’t just important for determining the overall health of the eye, but can give...
It turns out that blood vessels aren’t just important for determining the overall health of the eye, but can give clues about neurological health. Poor brain health is typically associated with lower scores on tests that measure verbal reasoning, memory, and reasoning, though direct link had never been found.
By measuring test scores against the size of the blood vessels in the eye, researchers were able to establish a link. There was a connection between those who had lower test scores also had wider blood vessels. This information could help doctors understand who is at a higher risk for dementia later in life, and be able to provide better preventative care and treatment
More info: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130603135533.htm
Saturday, 29 June 2013
New work out of Columbia University Medical Center has demonstrated that a protein called caspase-2 is a key...
New work out of Columbia University Medical Center has demonstrated that a protein called caspase-2 is a key regulator of a signaling pathway that leads to cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease – that associated with beta-amyloid.
The findings, made in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s, suggest that inhibiting this protein could prevent the neuronal damage. Here, the leftmost image–WT (wildtype), or normal, mice–shows normal branching of neuronal dendrites. The mice with Alzheimer’s disease (J20) show significant dendritic loss. When caspase-2 was deleted from mice with Alzheimer’s (J20/Casp2KO), dendritic branching was normal–demonstrating that removal of caspase-2 can protect neurons in the presence of amyloid beta. These images are taken at 14 months.
More info: http://newsroom.cumc.columbia.edu/2013/06/25/protein-identified-that-contributes-to-cognitive-decline-in-alzheimers/
Back in the days ...I used a pen and paper :)) I guess next step people gonna use Google glass for that ;)
Back in the days ...I used a pen and paper :)) I guess next step people gonna use Google glass for that ;)
A waste-removal system in our brains, the glymphatic system, that was first described in August 2012 may be a...
A waste-removal system in our brains, the glymphatic system, that was first described in August 2012 may be a potentially powerful new tool to treat neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s.
Scientists have used two-photon microscopy to peer deep within the living brain to observe & document the plumbing system that flushes waste from the brain. Understanding what role it plays in the brain’s inability to break down and remove errant proteins could point the way to new treatments. Specifically, whether certainly key ‘players’ in the glymphatic system, such as astrocytes, can be manipulated to ramp up the removal of waste
More info: http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/index.cfm?id=3870
Researchers are harnessing brain game data – so start playing!
Researchers are harnessing brain game data – so start playing!
Scientists from California’s Lumos Labs, maker of Web-based brain training games, are gathering data from online users to make connections between cognitive performance, lifestyle choices, and aging. One benefit to this is that the dataset offers an advantage over most psychological studies, which rely on university students rather than drawing from users of many ages
More info: http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/36156/title/Researchers-Harness-Brain-Game-Data/
Dreams are the children of an idle brain ...
Dreams are the children of an idle brain ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsS1MS3EqyM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsS1MS3EqyM
I'll love you, dear, I'll love you till China and Africa meet and the river jumps over the mountain and the salmon...
I'll love you, dear, I'll love you till China and Africa meet and the river jumps over the mountain and the salmon sing in the street.
Friday, 28 June 2013
The density inside of neutron stars is so great, it is believed that the atoms inside of it are very tightly packed...
The density inside of neutron stars is so great, it is believed that the atoms inside of it are very tightly packed and begin to form shapes that resemble pasta. Some form flat strips like lasagna, and others resemble fusilli in spirals. It was only recently experimentally verified that this type of matter is possible, though it was first theorized 30 years ago.
More info: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/27/nuclear-pasta-new-matter-neutron-stars_n_3509085.html
This genetic variation does not attract the bacteria that cause body odor.
This genetic variation does not attract the bacteria that cause body odor. Two percent of the population is thought to have this, and therefore have no need for underarm deodorant. Individuals with this variation are also more likely to have dry earwax compared to sticky earwax.
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9808268/One-million-people-who-have-non-body-odour-gene-still-use-deodorant-study.html
It is my ambition to say in ten sentences what others say in a whole book ;)
It is my ambition to say in ten sentences what others say in a whole book ;)
Thursday, 27 June 2013
Using a single drop of blood taken from the tail, Japanese scientists were able to successfully clone a mouse.
Using a single drop of blood taken from the tail, Japanese scientists were able to successfully clone a mouse. The technology was similar to that used to clone Dolly the sheep. The mouse grew up healthy. and was able to reproduce
More info: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23068423
Robots are getting more and more advanced these days.
Robots are getting more and more advanced these days. They can mop floors, assist with daily living tasks, pour beer… but can they rock your face off? It turns out that they can.
Z-Machines is a new band in Japan composed of robots created by students at Tokyo University. Mach (center) plays lead guitar with 12 picks and 78 fingers. Cosmo (left) plays keyboard and shoots lasers from its eyes. Ashura (right) is on drums and uses 21 sticks.
Source: http://pulseradio.net/articles/2013/06/japanese-invent-all-robot-band-z-machines
"I'm sorry for what I said when I was hungry."
"I'm sorry for what I said when I was hungry."
A new study suggests that hunger not only affects moods, but also the ability to make decisions and willingness to take risks. Fruit flies typically fly away from places when high levels of carbon dioxide are detected, though the presence or absence of food plays a major role in the decision making process. Hungry flies were more willing to put themselves into an unfavorable situation when they smelled food compared to when food was not present. When scientists disabled the nerve line for the hunger sensation, all of the flies avoided the dangerous situation regardless of how hungry they actually were.
Ilona Grunwald-Kadow, the head of the study, explains "If the fly is hungry, it will no longer rely on the 'direct line' but will use brain centres to gauge internal and external signals and reach a balanced decision. It is fascinating to see the extent to which metabolic processes and hunger affect the processing systems in the brain."
More info: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130625073802.htm
I have no idea how anyone found this out, but it's completely true.
I have no idea how anyone found this out, but it's completely true. You don't even necessarily need to have a red light. Apparently, the brain is addicted to sensation. So when all sensation is blocked out, the brain creates its own!
More tricks here: http://thumbnails.visually.netdna-cdn.com/the-power-of-the-mind_50290a8a7c3f1_w969.jpg
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
White matter fibers of the human brain are tracked with diffusion tensor imaging.
White matter fibers of the human brain are tracked with diffusion tensor imaging.
More info: http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/36136/title/Image-of-the-Day--Brain-Fibers/
Grover Krantz was an eccentric anthropologist and devoted pet lover.
Grover Krantz was an eccentric anthropologist and devoted pet lover. Before he lost his battle with pancreatic cancer in 2002, Krantz decided to donate his body to the Smithsonian. He said, "I’ve been a teacher all my life and I think I might as well be a teacher after I’m dead, so why don’t I just give you my body. But there’s one catch: You have to keep my dogs with me.”
Anthropologist David Hunt agreed to the conditions and posed Krantz with his favorite dog Clyde, an Irish wolfhound. The two were on display for two years at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
More info: http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/2009/02/grover-krantz-donated-his-body-to-science-on-one-condition/
These two pictures show body scans of two women approximately the same age and height.
These two pictures show body scans of two women approximately the same age and height. The one on the left weighs 113 kg (250 lbs), while the one on the right weighs 54 kg (120 lbs). Accumulated adipose tissue is not the only difference between the two; the obese woman has an enlarged heart and her lungs are somewhat restricted.
Obesity has recently been declared a disease by the American Medical Association. While this does not have any legal ramifications, it may encourage doctors and insurance companies to take more steps in treating and preventing obesity. However, many disagree with the AMA's definition, citing that obesity is a complex issue with multiple causes and treatment options.
Obesity is defined as having a body mass index over 30 kg/m^2. It greatly increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and osteoarthritis.
More info: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/23011804
To me every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle
To me every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle
This heartwarming and inspirational story recently went viral online.
This heartwarming and inspirational story recently went viral online. Unfortunately, it's been sensationalized to the point of insanity. While it's absolutely based on a real case study, the story that's actually gone round is highly misleading.
Luckily, as usual, the real science is even more interesting than the sensationalized nonsense! Kat Arney over at Cancer Research UK breaks down the real science here, and tells us what's actually going on: http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2013/06/25/no-doctors-did-not-inject-hiv-into-a-dying-girl-to-treat-her-cancer/
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
Monday, 24 June 2013
Studying cancer cells in a dish does not allow them to act how they would in the human body.
Studying cancer cells in a dish does not allow them to act how they would in the human body. Without the constraint of gravity, the cells are able to move about in three dimensions, instead of spreading out flat in a dish
Source:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/cancer.html
The device uses nanotubes to examine the electrical properties of a cell, which may indicate health.
The device uses nanotubes to examine the electrical properties of a cell, which may indicate health. Eventually, researchers hope it will be able to detect bacteria, viruses, and even cancer
More info: http://www.universityherald.com/articles/3650/20130624/published-research-shows-promise-new-device-detect-disease-drop-blood.htm
Only ⅓ of American girls who are able to get the vaccine have done so, while Rwanda's vaccination rate is over 80%.
Only ⅓ of American girls who are able to get the vaccine have done so, while Rwanda's vaccination rate is over 80%. Certain types of HPV cause cervical cancer in girls and throat cancer in boys. Officials from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention have attributed the decline to efficacy of the vaccine as well as herd immunity. Their next step will be to try to increase vaccination rates in the United States.
Source: http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2013/p0619-hpv-vaccinations.html
When it comes to fitness inspiration....well these two are AWESOME ;)
When it comes to fitness inspiration....well these two are AWESOME ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0oVeDXzpdo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0oVeDXzpdo
Chemists from Southern Methodist University (SMU) have developed a chemical probe to help scientists study the...
Chemists from Southern Methodist University (SMU) have developed a chemical probe to help scientists study the mechanics of critical signaling molecules, such as hydrogen sulfide, and to study how H2S benefits cardiovascular health.
They have demonstrated the use of this probe - a new class of live-cell fluorescent probes - for the imaging of H2S as produced by our cells during angiogenesis using confocal microscopy. This is the first time it has been done in a living system.
In this image, the fluorescent probe images endogenous H2S in endothelial cells cultured from a human umbilical vein.
More info : http://blog.smu.edu/research/2013/06/18/chemical-probe-confirms-that-body-makes-its-own-rotten-egg-gas-h2s-to-benefit-health/
Sunday, 23 June 2013
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