Astronomers catch binary star explosion inside nebula
The explosion of a binary star inside a planetary nebula has been captured by a team led by UCL (University College London) researchers - an event that has not been witnessed for more than 100 years. (2008-11-20) Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:04:41 +0100
Solar-Powered Sea Slugs Live Like Plants
The lowly sea slug, "Elysia chlorotica," may not seem like the most exciting of creatures, but don't be fooled: it behaves like a plant and is solar-powered, says a Texas A&M University biologist who has been studying these tiny creatures for the past decade and, along with collaborators from several universities, has identified a possible cause of their ability to behave like plants. (2008-11-26) Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:04:41 +0100
Scientists discover new species of Ebola virus
Scientists report the discovery of a new species of Ebola virus, provisionally named Bundibugyo ebolavirus, November 21 in the open-access journal PLoS Pathogens. (2008-11-21) Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:04:41 +0100
Astronomers detect matter torn apart by black hole
Astronomers have used two different telescopes simultaneously to study the violent flares from the supermassive black hole in the centre of the Milky Way. They have detected outbursts from this region, known as Sagittarius A*, which reveal material being stretched out as it orbits in the intense gravity close to the central black hole. (2008-11-19) Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:04:41 +0100
11,000 alien species invade Europe
For the first time it is now possible to get a comprehensive overview of which alien species are present in Europe, their impacts and consequences for the environment and society. (2008-11-21) Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:04:41 +0100
Study on wildlife corridors shows how they work over time
At the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, there are five strange looking "patches" cleared out of the surrounding forest. No, they're not crop circles carved by aliens. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:28:12 +0100
Discovery of virus in lemur could shed light on AIDS
The genome of a squirrel-sized, saucer-eyed lemur from Madagascar may help scientists understand how HIV-like viruses coevolved with primates, according to new research from the Stanford University School of Medicine. The discovery, to be published online on Dec. 1 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could provide insight into why non-human primates don't get AIDS and lead to treatments for humans. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:26:57 +0100
No place like home: New theory for how salmon, sea turtles find their birthplace
How marine animals find their way back to their birthplace to reproduce after migrating across thousands of miles of open ocean has mystified scientists for more than a century. But marine biologists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill think they might finally have unraveled the secret. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:26:22 +0100
Lack of vitamin D could spell heart trouble
Vitamin D deficiencywhich is traditionally associated with bone and muscle weaknessmay also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). A growing body of evidence links low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels to common CVD risk factors such as hypertension, obesity and diabetes, as well as major cardiovascular events including stroke and congestive heart failure. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:25:44 +0100
Brightsurf Science
News and Current Science Events
A carbon-neutral way to power your home
A super-efficient system that has the potential to power, heat and cool homes across the UK is being developed at Newcastle University. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:04:42 +0100
New screening halves the number of children born with Down syndrome
A new national screening strategy in Denmark has halved the number of infants born with Down's syndrome and increased the number of infants diagnosed before birth by 30%, according to a study published on bmj.com today. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:04:42 +0100
Using invisibility to increase visibility
Research into the development of invisibility devices has spurred two physicists' thought on the behaviour of light to overcome the seemingly intractable problem of optical singularities which could soon lead to the manufacturing of a perfect cat's eye. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:04:42 +0100
St. Jude identifies genomic causes of a certain type of leukemia relapse
Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have identified distinctive genetic changes in the cancer cells of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that cause relapse. The finding offers a pathway to designing treatments for ALL relapse in children and, ultimately, in adults. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:04:42 +0100
Study on wildlife corridors shows how they work over time
At the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, there are five strange looking "patches" cleared out of the surrounding forest. No, they're not crop circles carved by aliens. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:28:12 +0100
No place like home: New theory for how salmon, sea turtles find their birthplace
How marine animals find their way back to their birthplace to reproduce after migrating across thousands of miles of open ocean has mystified scientists for more than a century. But marine biologists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill think they might finally have unraveled the secret. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:26:22 +0100
Researchers discover how mosquitoes avoid succumbing to viruses they transmit
Mosquitoes are like Typhoid Mary. They can spread viruses which cause West Nile fever, dengue fever, or yellow fever without themselves getting sick. Scientists long thought that the mosquito didn't care whether it had a virus hitchhiker, but have now discovered, "There is a war going on," said Zach Adelman, assistant professor of entomology at Virginia Tech. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:22:35 +0100
New movement models tested at the Smithsonian in Panama
Feeling threatened? Hungry? Looking for a mate? Move! Tracking and remote sensing data are making it easier to locate organisms and find out what they are up to. However, general theories of movement are lacking. In a special feature on Movement Ecology in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers present integrative models for movement of organisms as diverse as gut bacteria, tree seeds, ants, marine larvae and cheetahs. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:21:33 +0100
Evidence from dirty teeth: Ancient Peruvians ate well
Starch grains preserved on human teeth reveal that ancient Peruvians ate a variety of cultivated crops including squash, beans, peanuts and the fruit of cultivated pacay trees. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:15:26 +0100
ScienceDaily: Nature News
Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:05:01 EST
Antarctica Has More Species Than Galapagos, First Comprehensive Inventory Of Antarctic Life Shows
The first comprehensive "inventory" of sea and land animals around a group of Antarctic islands reveals a region that is rich in biodiversity and has more species than the Galapagos. The study provides an important benchmark to monitor how they will respond to future environmental change. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST
Biofuel Plantations On Tropical Forestlands Are Bad For The Climate And Biodiversity, Study Finds
Keeping tropical rain forests intact is a better way to combat climate change than replacing them with biofuel plantations, a study in the journal Conservation Biology finds. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST
Climate Change Opens New Avenue For Spread Of Invasive Plants
A team of researchers from the Netherlands and Florida has found that plants that range beyond their normal distribution because of warming climates may have advantages over native plants. Global warming-induced biological invasions may represent an additional threat to biodiversity. Sun, 30 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST
Bird Population Estimates Are Flawed, New Study Shows
Most of what we know about bird populations stems from surveys conducted by professional biologists and amateur birdwatchers, but new research shows that the data from those surveys may be seriously flawed -- and proposes possible means to resolve the problem. Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST
New National Survey Says Public Reveres Bison
Americans are woefully out of touch with the fact that the American bison, or buffalo, is in trouble as a wild, iconic species, but they do love them as an important symbol of their country -- and as an entree on the dinner table. These sentiments were found in a public survey by the Wildlife Conservation Society at a national conference on restoring bison populations in the North America. Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST
Disappearing Superconductivity Reappears -- in 2-D
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists studying a material that appeared to lose its ability to carry current with no resistance say new measurements reveal that the material is indeed a superconductor but only in two dimensions. Equally surprising, this new form of 2-D superconductivity emerges at a higher temperature than ordinary 3-D superconductivity in other compositions of the same material. The research, conducted in part at the U.S. Department of Energy`s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory, will appear in the November 2008 issue of Physical Review B. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:19:53 +0100
Scientists discover possible mechanism for creating 'handedness' in biological molecules
(PhysOrg.com) --The basic molecules that make up all living things have a predetermined chirality or "handedness, similar to the way people are right- or left-handed. This chirality has a profound influence on the chemistry and molecular interactions of living organisms. The creation of chirality from the elementary building blocks of matter is one of the great mysteries of the origin of life. Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have discovered a way to induce this handedness in pre-biological molecules. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:12:39 +0100
A picture paints more than a petabyte of data
In the age of the petabyte, we all need help digesting and understanding massive amounts of information. In this month's Physics World, a series of features celebrates the ascendance of visual methods that are being used to make meaning of the mountains of scientific data. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:33:39 +0100
Linux Evolution Reveals Origins of Curious Mathematical Phenomenon
(PhysOrg.com) -- Zipf`s law is a testament to the order in our world, showing that the same patterns emerge in a wide variety of situations. The linguist George Kingsley Zipf first proposed the law in 1949, when he noticed that the distribution of words in a newspaper, book, or other literary article always followed the same pattern. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:24:15 +0100
Cornell astrophysicist Edwin Salpeter dies at 83
(AP) -- Edwin E. Salpeter, an astrophysicist whose work in the "Salpeter-Bethe equation" showed how helium changes to carbon, has died. He was 83. Sat, 29 Nov 2008 18:16:27 +0100
Dig unearths Stone Age sculptures
An excavation in Russia has unearthed female figurines, tools, and a cone-shaped carving of unknown purpose. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:43:51 GMT
Palm oil offers no green solution
A major international study says palm oil plantations reduce plant and animal diversity, and do little to reduce carbon emissions. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:37:07 GMT
First inventory of life at poles
The first comprehensive inventory of the sea and land animals living in a polar region has been carried out. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 06:53:21 GMT
Antioxidants 'cannot slow ageing'
Diets and creams which claim their antioxidant properties could cheat the advances of time may be worthless, researchers suggest. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:17:48 GMT
70% deforestation cuts for Brazil
Brazil's environment minister has plans to reduce deforestation in the Amazon region by up to 70%, as UN climate talks begin. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:59:30 GMT
As our society ages, the topic of cognitive aging is becoming increasingly important. This volume provides an accessible overview of how the cognitive system changes as a function of normal aging.
Building on the successful first edition, this volume provides an even more comprehensive coverage of the major issues affecting memory, attention, language, speech and other aspects of cognitive functioning. The essential chapters from the first edition have been thoroughly revised and updated and new chapters have been introduced which draw in neuroscience studies and more applied topics. In addition, contributors were encouraged to ensure their chapters are accessible to students studying the topic for the first time. This therefore makes the volume appealing as a textbook on senior undergraduate and graduate courses.
A Special Issue of Language and Cognitive Processes
Edited by Ram Frost, Jonathan Grainger, Manuel Carreiras
Ten years ago, a group of researchers investigating the processing of morphological information met in the south of France to discuss how morphology affects word recognition, perception and production from a cross-linguistic perspective. This special issue is the fourth volume to expose the results of this on-going research effort.
The volume begins with a comprehensive review of the nature of morphological priming, followed by a series of experimental papers that examine morphological processing in a variety of languages such as English, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Chinese, and Spanish. The parallel monitoring of morphological processing in reading, speech perception and production, using a wide array of experimental methods such as masked priming, long-term priming, the monitoring of eye movements, and the recording of electrophysiological activity, provides converging evidence regarding the nature of morphemic representations in the various languages.
The cross-linguistic perspective that characterizes the research effort of the present volume, as well as the previous ones, is used to investigate whether there are qualitative differences in the principles of lexical organization and lexical processing in different alphabetic orthographies that arise from qualitative differences in morphological structure.
Mirror neurons are premotor neurons, originally discovered in the macaque brain , that discharge both during execution of goal-directed actions and during the observation of similar actions executed by another individual. They therefore mirror others actions on the observer's motor repertoire. In the last decade an impressive amount of work has been devoted to the study of their properties and to investigate if they are present also in our species. Neuroimaging and electrophysiological techniques have shown that a mirror-neuron system does exist in the human brain as well. Among mirror human areas, Brocas area (the frontal area for speech production) is almost constantly activated by action observation. This suggests a possible evolutionary link between action understanding and verbal communication. In the most recent years, mirror-like phenomena have been demonstrated also for domains others than the pure motor one. Examples of that are the somatosensory and the emotional systems, possibly providing a neurophysiological basis to phenomena such as embodiment and empathy. This special issue collects some of the most representative works on the mirror-neuron system to give a panoramic view on current research and to stimulate new experiments in this exciting field.
Merit-based tests and contests have become popular methods for allocating rewards from trophies to contracts, jobs to grants, admissions to licenses. With origins in jurisprudence, methods of rewarding merit seem fairer than those rewarding political or social connections, bribery, aggression, status, or wealth. Because of this, merit-based competitions are well-suited to the societal belief that people should be rewarded for what they know or do, and not for who they know or are; however, judging merit is rarely an easy task it is prone to a variety of biases and errors. Small biases and errors, especially in large competitions, can make large differences in who or what is rewarded. It is important, then, to learn how to spot flaws in procedures for judging merit and to correct them when possible.
Based on over 20 years of theory and research in human judgment, decision making and social psychology, this unique book brings together for the first time what is known about the processes and problems of judging merit and their consequences. It also provides practical suggestions for increasing the fairness of merit-based competitions, and examines the future and limits of these competitions in society.
Published November 24 2008 by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Human Development from Early Childhood to Early Adulthood
Findings from a 20 Year Longitudinal Study
Edited by Wolfgang Schneider, Merry Bullock
Data generated from longitudinal studies paint a rich and varied picture of development and allow researchers to understand more deeply how context and experience interact with stable characteristics of the developing person over time. This book represents an overview, description, and summary of a landmark longitudinal study of approximately 200 children, from the ages 3 to 23. The Munich Longitudinal study on the Ontogenesis of Individual Competencies (LOGIC) traced developmental pathways in cognitive, social, and motor domains from preschool to young adulthood in a sample of children who grew up during the 1980s and 1990s in and around Munich, Germany. This valuable study has generated a tremendous amount of data that have been reported in more than 150 empirical articles. This book is the second volume to provide a comprehensive look at the developmental issues in these domains examined in the study. The first volume traced development from ages 3 to 12. This volume continues the story, integrating these early findings with results from the next two developmental phases adolescence (measurements at ages 13 and 18) and young adulthood (measurements at age 23).
Each of the chapters provides a summary of the literature and answers the questions was development stable and was it possible to predict later variables from earlier ones. The topics covered include core variables reflecting basic cognitive and motor skills (intelligence, memory, motor skills), social-cognitive competencies (moral thinking, personality, self-concept), and school-related competencies (scientific reasoning, spelling, mathematics). Each author summarizes developmental trends within their specific domain, and addresses issues of individual development its stability over time, and the extent to which earlier performance predicts later competencies. The size of the LOGIC sample allows comparison of subgroups and subgroup analyses, defined by early personality characteristics or educational track or adult socio-cognitive variables.
This book will appeal to advanced students and researchers in developmental, educational, personality, and cognitive psychology as well as researchers in education since several chapters focus on topics relevant for these scholars (i.e., literacy development, educational context, mathematical reasoning).
Published November 24 2008 by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
