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.
Friday, January 21, 2011
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!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
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
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.
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.
Friday, January 7, 2011
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?
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
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.
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.
Eye Perception Through Tennis
http://www.macroevolution.net/fast-balls.html
Tennis referees are calling balls out when really they are in. Scientists say that there is a slight perceptual error when fast movement is seen by the human eye. This is causing false calls. The video camera shows this. A scientist says that a tennis ball makes an unpredictable change, it bounces, and the brain does a poor job of prediction in this sort of situation.
This is unfair to me but happens in everything. This is not on purpose but causes major problems. I think that in a match they should do a replay when the ball is that close to the line. After this give a signal to the referee to make a correct call. Although it is not the referees fault because of this it still causes crowd problems. If the replay shows the right call then thats what the referee should go with.
Tennis referees are calling balls out when really they are in. Scientists say that there is a slight perceptual error when fast movement is seen by the human eye. This is causing false calls. The video camera shows this. A scientist says that a tennis ball makes an unpredictable change, it bounces, and the brain does a poor job of prediction in this sort of situation.
This is unfair to me but happens in everything. This is not on purpose but causes major problems. I think that in a match they should do a replay when the ball is that close to the line. After this give a signal to the referee to make a correct call. Although it is not the referees fault because of this it still causes crowd problems. If the replay shows the right call then thats what the referee should go with.
Yale researchers find double doses of chicken pox vaccine most effective-Hannah Moerk
Summary:
Chicken pox is a common illness in children, but can also occur in adults. When vaccinating children against chicken pox researchers at Yale School of Medicine been recently been doing further research. They have found, two doses are better than one. In fact, the odds of developing chicken pox were 95 percent lower in children who had received two doses of the vaccine compared with those who had received only one dose. In 1995, the doctors started recommending one dose especially in children, but now should they start recommending two?
Opinion:
How does the double dose affect the body? Although it is being more preventative to chicken pox, is it harming it too? Researchers at Yale are saying that the vaccine isn't doing any other harm, and that basically a double dose is just making the vaccine stronger. When one dose was recommended the number of cases went down, and now with two they say they it should continue to decrease. Hopefully after a few more studies to prove and make sure the vaccine isn't harmful, doctors will start giving double the of vaccine, and the number of people with chicken pox will go down even more!
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2011/01/05/yale_researchers_find_double_doses_of_chicken_pox_vaccine_most_effective.html
Chicken pox is a common illness in children, but can also occur in adults. When vaccinating children against chicken pox researchers at Yale School of Medicine been recently been doing further research. They have found, two doses are better than one. In fact, the odds of developing chicken pox were 95 percent lower in children who had received two doses of the vaccine compared with those who had received only one dose. In 1995, the doctors started recommending one dose especially in children, but now should they start recommending two?
Opinion:
How does the double dose affect the body? Although it is being more preventative to chicken pox, is it harming it too? Researchers at Yale are saying that the vaccine isn't doing any other harm, and that basically a double dose is just making the vaccine stronger. When one dose was recommended the number of cases went down, and now with two they say they it should continue to decrease. Hopefully after a few more studies to prove and make sure the vaccine isn't harmful, doctors will start giving double the of vaccine, and the number of people with chicken pox will go down even more!
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2011/01/05/yale_researchers_find_double_doses_of_chicken_pox_vaccine_most_effective.html
Thursday, January 6, 2011
New LA high school Biology books finally approved
http://www.ksla.com/Global/story.asp?S=13647842
In Baton Rouge, LA, the state education board has approved new biology textbooks to high school students across the state. Complaints were expressed that the old books covered too much information on evolution. This is the first time books in this subject matter have been approved since 2002. Even though the bill has been passed, the public school systems have to decide when they want to order the books. Opponents of the books say that the topic of evolution doesn't encourage critisism or debate. Supporters say that the books were trying to force religious issues.
In my opinion, I think that evolution is controversy between religion. People believe whatever they want to, but I believe what is right. Since the school system bans religion in classrooms, evolution is the only debate against it. I hope the new books are very unbiased. I think religion should be involved in school because it isn't really a broad topic conversed in school.
In Baton Rouge, LA, the state education board has approved new biology textbooks to high school students across the state. Complaints were expressed that the old books covered too much information on evolution. This is the first time books in this subject matter have been approved since 2002. Even though the bill has been passed, the public school systems have to decide when they want to order the books. Opponents of the books say that the topic of evolution doesn't encourage critisism or debate. Supporters say that the books were trying to force religious issues.
In my opinion, I think that evolution is controversy between religion. People believe whatever they want to, but I believe what is right. Since the school system bans religion in classrooms, evolution is the only debate against it. I hope the new books are very unbiased. I think religion should be involved in school because it isn't really a broad topic conversed in school.
Beasty Prehistoric Bird
SUMMERY
Paleontologists at Yale University and the Smithsonian Institution have discovered that Xenicibis, a species of Ibis that lived ten-thousand years ago, used their wings as weapons. Nicholas Longrich of Yale said, "No animal has ever evolved anything quite like this." It's the most specialized weapondry of birds the scientists have ever seen. The birds' bones in their wings are curved and thick and they use them like a flail to wack their opponents. Ibis birds are known to be territorial and fight over nesting ground. These birds evolved so well they could survive, even as the flightless birds they are, when there were many preditors on the ground for them.
OPINION
The article was obviously intresting enough that I read it entirely through. The entire time, I was trying to imagine what this bird would look like. The article described it's flailing like "swinging a baseball bat", but that's very difficult to imagine. Does that mean that one of the bones is attached so it can swivel it's arm? Obviously the "club wings" helped if the bird could survive against so many preditors, even for a short amount of time. And, what is the use of this new breakthrough, how will it benefit the general public?
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2011/01/05/prehistoric_bird_used_clublike_wings_as_weapon.html
Brittany Burns
Paleontologists at Yale University and the Smithsonian Institution have discovered that Xenicibis, a species of Ibis that lived ten-thousand years ago, used their wings as weapons. Nicholas Longrich of Yale said, "No animal has ever evolved anything quite like this." It's the most specialized weapondry of birds the scientists have ever seen. The birds' bones in their wings are curved and thick and they use them like a flail to wack their opponents. Ibis birds are known to be territorial and fight over nesting ground. These birds evolved so well they could survive, even as the flightless birds they are, when there were many preditors on the ground for them.
OPINION
The article was obviously intresting enough that I read it entirely through. The entire time, I was trying to imagine what this bird would look like. The article described it's flailing like "swinging a baseball bat", but that's very difficult to imagine. Does that mean that one of the bones is attached so it can swivel it's arm? Obviously the "club wings" helped if the bird could survive against so many preditors, even for a short amount of time. And, what is the use of this new breakthrough, how will it benefit the general public?
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2011/01/05/prehistoric_bird_used_clublike_wings_as_weapon.html
Brittany Burns
Prehistoric bird used clublike wings as a weapon
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2011/01/05/prehistoric_bird_used_clublike_wings_as_weapon.html
Summary – This article is about how scientists have recently discovered the use of wings for a ten thousand year old flightless bird. The bird, Xenicibis, had a wing structure that had previously baffled the paleontologists because of its build, which was unlike any wing structure of other birds. It turns out that the thick hand bones were used to hit its enemies! The scientists first new that the wings had to be used for something was because they were very large for a bird that doesn’t fly. Modern day ibises, which are related to Xenicibis don’t use their wings in this way, but they seemed to have gotten their ferocious need to protect their territory from their ancestor.
Opinion – I think this article is pretty interesting that a bird would use its wings in such a way. The article also said that it is the only bird known with “hands” so I am curious if it used them for anything else. The article also posed an interesting question when it said that the bird stayed flightless even though there were a lot of ground predators. I guess it just must have accidentally warded something off with its wings, and then realized that it was a good technique. I think it was good to read this article after learning about evolution because I can understand it a lot better.
Summary – This article is about how scientists have recently discovered the use of wings for a ten thousand year old flightless bird. The bird, Xenicibis, had a wing structure that had previously baffled the paleontologists because of its build, which was unlike any wing structure of other birds. It turns out that the thick hand bones were used to hit its enemies! The scientists first new that the wings had to be used for something was because they were very large for a bird that doesn’t fly. Modern day ibises, which are related to Xenicibis don’t use their wings in this way, but they seemed to have gotten their ferocious need to protect their territory from their ancestor.
Opinion – I think this article is pretty interesting that a bird would use its wings in such a way. The article also said that it is the only bird known with “hands” so I am curious if it used them for anything else. The article also posed an interesting question when it said that the bird stayed flightless even though there were a lot of ground predators. I guess it just must have accidentally warded something off with its wings, and then realized that it was a good technique. I think it was good to read this article after learning about evolution because I can understand it a lot better.