Australopithecus sediba

http://www.macroevolution.net/australopithecus-sediba.html

A new species of Australopithecus was found around in South Africa. This new discovery was on April 8, 2010. Although not very current, research is still going on. Surprisingly enough, a nine-year old boy found the remains of this species. However, these were found August 8th, 2008 but only made public in April. There were the remains of two separate bodies.

I thought this was interesting because I did a project on Australopithcus in 7th grade. Since I knew what they were and some of the history, I knew how big a discovery like this is. This is a big step for scientists getting closer to finding the whole history of humans. I think everything will make a little bit more since after this finding. Something like this could change the history of the world.

Are Sharks Colorblind?- Hannah Moerk

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2011/01/19/are_sharks_color_blind.html

Summary:

Can sharks see color? What about other animals that are closely related?According to research by the University of Western Australia, they are saying that sharks are unable to distinguish colors. Although it has been made evident, that their close relatives rays and chimaeras have some color vision. How can humans benefit from the information on their eyesight?

Opinion:

This new research may help us with prevention in shark attacks and fishing lure. It also may help to design long-line fishing lures, that are less attractive to sharks. As well as, to design swim wear and surf gear that has a lower visual contrast. Hopefully as more research is done, we will find out if all kinds of sharks have the same eyesight. Leading us to know how to be cautious and aware of what sharks are attracted too!

Dogs Guided Remotely by Stealth System

Summary- Trained dogs are smart enough to find bombs, drugs, people, and the safest way to cross the street. But to do so they need their handelers near by. Now scientist have made new system that could turn canines into remotely guided "super dogs" that can take on risky tasks. They designed a harness equipped with GPS, sensors, a processor and a radio modem that connects wirelessly to computer system. In the trails, the dog followed directions 80% of the time, and the computer issued correct commands 99% of the time.

Opinion- I think its really great that they are making these things for the police dogs. Wouldn't it be awkward for the dogs to carry something so heavy? Since they are going to use them with the cartels wouldn't the people notice the harness? I wonder why the dog followed directions 80% of the time? I wonder if they are smarter than we are?












http://news.discovery.com/tech/dog-remote-guidance-system-110119.html

New technique to see neurons of the deep brain for months at a time developed at Stanford

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2011/01/17/new_technique_to_see_neurons_of_the_deep_brain_for_months_at_a_time_developed_at_stanford.html

Summary – This article is about how researchers at Stanford University have discovered a way to view deep into the brain over a long period of time. This was impossible before since normal light microscopes could only see a little way into the brain before the picture went black. The Stanford scientists instead inserted a glass tube into the brains of mice, and when they want to look into the brain, they can. This allows them to see what goes on in the same area of brain over time, without damaging the tissue. They hope to continue their research on brain diseases and the formation of memories, while also teaching other researchers the same technique.

Opinion – I think this article was pretty interesting. I have recently become interested in neuroscience and about how the brain retains memories and understands languages. This article is interesting because the scientists have found a way to observe what goes on deep in the brain, and it could lead to some interesting breakthroughs. The only thing I was worried about was that they bred mice just so that they could give them a human disease, and I think that is cruel since the mice might be in pain. That is my opinion on the article.

Wing Weapons

http://www.biologynews.net/archieves/2011/01/05/prehistoric_bird_used_clublike_wings_as_weapon.html

At Yale University scientists known as Palentologists, discovered a new type of bird know as the Xenicibis. The Xenicibis is a prehistoric bird in the Ibis family that is known for its special combat like wings. The wings of this bird fought of predators by being stroke by them. The thick, curved structure of the bones allowed the bird to give off a powerfull impact. Only few modern Ibises can still do this.

I think that this proves that we are more like are ancestors then we think. Even though this is a new discovery to find that this bird had wings that were made for weapons, we know that there are species in mordern day that have similar wings. It makes me wonder what Palentoligsts will find out about our past next. Maybe humans had different bone structures that helped us protect ourselves?

Tears Are a Turn-Off for Men

Summary- Crying women literally turn-off men because women have a pheromone in their tears that turn-off men. The experiment suggest that women's emotional tears contain a chemosignal that reduces sexual arousal in men. The reason why people, but not other animals, cry at sad thoughts or events remain a mystery. In a study there was a group of men ages 23- 30, sniff a jar of tears collected from women as they watched sad film clips or drops a salt solution that had been trickled down the same women's face. Fifty men who had smelt the tears showed physiological signs of reduced sexual arousal.

Opinion- I think it's really wierd since tears are odorless. I wonder if it would have the same affect if children smelt the tears of each other. I wonder what would happen if women had to smell tears of a baby. I wonder what would happen if men smelt the tears of childern. I wonder if it would have the same affect if women smelt men tears.


http://news.discovery.com/human/tears-women-men-libido-110106.html

current event

Scientists discovered a prehistoric bird that used its wings as a weapon. It is only found in Jamaica. Its wings were club like and it used them to seing around and hit predators. They found that the wings were different from anything before. The new bird's name is Xenicibis.

I think that it was weird because birds aren't usually like that. this is the only bird that I know of that doesn't only use its wings to fly. I think that this would be an awkward looking bird.