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- Astronomers Discover "Fat Jupiter" and Twin Planets That Could Share LifeIt's hard to believe that there are planets even larger than our own solar system's giant, but in December 2015, researchers at the University of California, Berkeley announced in the discovery of HD-106906b - a planet 11 times more massive than Jupiter. The "Fat Jupiter," as some scientists call it, is also 16 times further away from its sun than Pluto. Astronomers like Paul Kalas speculate that it was "kicked out" of its solar system by a relatively recent "violent gravitational interaction."
The scientists also discussed the existence of twin Earth-like plants in another solar system. They said that although Earth is the only planet in our system that lies in the habitable zone (not to far away or to close to the sun), other solar systems can have more than one planet orbiting at just the right distance. What's more, "Life in a multi-habitable system may have a higher probability of surviving," according to University of Nevada's Jason Steffen. - Researchers Discover New Phase of CarbonResearchers at the University of North Carolina discovered a new phase of carbon, called "Q-carbon" that could have important implications for developing new types of electronic display technologies. A "phase" is a distinct form of the same material, with diamond and graphite two carbon phases joined by Q-carbon. The new phase gives researchers the ability to create a diamond at room temperature and ambient atmospheric pressure.
Source: Phys.org - Doctors Grow Human Vocal Cords from ScratchUsing cells from human donors, doctors have, for the first time, built a set of vocal cords from scratch. The cells were urged to form a tissue that mimics vocal fold mucosa - vibrating flaps in the larynx that create the sounds of the human voice. This amazing breakthrough could someday restore speech to patients who lost their vocal cords due to illness or surgery.
Source: New Scientist - Wifi Sidewalks: Coming Soon to EnglandSolving a problem people the First World over face, the streets of Chesham’s town center in Buckinghamshire, England, are getting a cool new feature: Smart Wi-Fi Pavements.
Developed by Virgin Media, this technology will allow passersby and those chilling on the patios of local coffee shops to surf the Net. But won't everything take hours to load? Nope! The service will be fast enough to download a 45-minute episode on a video streaming site in just 35 seconds.
Source: IFL Science - Astronomers May Have Found Alien-Built StructuresThe Kepler Space Telescope identified a pretty cool star (KIC 8462852), said astronomers in October 2015. What makes it so cool? Well, it may harbor structers that might have been built by intelligent life (aliens). The large cluster of objects apparently looks like something you would ""expect an alien civilization to build."
Astronomers are planning a variety of follow-up observations to check out these bizarre structures.
Source: Independent - 200+ New Species Identified in Fragile Himalayan RegionIn a new report, scientists from various organizations announced that between 2009 and 2014 they discovered 211 new species in the Eastern Himalayas, including 133 plants, 39 invertebrates, 26 fish, 10 amphibians, one reptile, one bird, and one mammal. Among the most notable and flashy discoveries are the blue dwarf ‘walking’ snakehead fish (which can breathe air and survive on land for up to four days), a monkey with an upturned nose that sneezes when it rains, and the bejeweled lance-headed pit viper, which looks like a genuine piece of jewelry.
These discoveries indicate that this region of the Himalayas is one of the most biologically diverse on Earth.
Source: World Wildlife Fund - Mammal Species That Survived Dinosaur Extinction DiscoveredPublished in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, scientists announced that they have identified the "rodent-like" mammal species, Kimbetopsalis simmonsae. This plant-eating mammal looked kind of like a beaver and offers clues as to how mammals "took over" following the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Found in the New Mexico badlands, this mammal is notable as well for its teeth - it had "complicated rows of cusps at the back and incisors at the front for gnawing."
Source: BBC - Scientists Identify Drugs for a Potential Male Birth Control PillTwo drugs, cyclosporine A (also known as CsA) and FK506 (also known as tacrolimus) have been identified as having the potential to work as a male birth control pill. The combination of drugs make the part of the sperm that connects the tail and the head too rigid to penetrate the zona pellucida - the membrane that surrounds the egg.
Source: Medical Xpress - NASA Finds Evidence of Water on Mars"There is liquid water today on the surface of Mars." So said Michael Meyer, lead scientist of NASA’s Mars exploration program. Thanks to satellite images taken from the Mars orbit in 2015, the team has determined that salty water runs down canyons and crater walls throughout the Red Planet's summer months. The images show that the steep walls of valleys and craters are streaked with summertime flows, which form intricate fan patterns.
Source: NASA - Researchers Create Yeasts That Can Produce THCResearchers have developed yeasts that can make THC, the main psychoactive compound found in marijuana. Though other types of synthetic THC exist, genetically modified yeast such as these could make THC in a cheaper and more streamlined way, helping aid in further research into the health benefits of the compound.
Source: The New York Times - Cancer Patient Receives 3D-Printed Sternum and RibsThe first surgical procedure of its time, a 54-year-old Spanish man received a custom, 3D-printed sternum and ribs. The man had chest wall sarcoma, a tumor that grows in the chest wall. His had grown around his sternum and in order to remove it, doctors also had to remove the sternum and part of his ribcage.
However, using high-resolution CT scans of his chest, the Australian medical device company Anatomics was able to 3D-print an accurate implant, and let the surgical team accurately plan their procedure.
Source: CNET - Scientists Discover Fossils of a New Species of Human AncestorA group of scientists searching for fossils in a South African cave turned up a brand new human ancestor, different enough to be worthy of its own species. Dubbed Homo naledi, the species is rather primitive, but also looks remarkably like modern humans and will likely force scientists to take another look at how they see human evolution.
Source: National Geographic - Doctors Give Man the First Bionic PenisSo when Scotland resident Mohammed Abad was six years old, he was in a really bad car accident. How bad? Well, he was hit by a car and dragged almost 600 feet, an incident which tore off his penis. But don't worry, because a University of London team has been hard at work for the last three years crafting Abad a brand new 8-inch penis, made with skin grafts from his forearm. It can even become erect at the push of a button, which activates a pump that infuses the appendage with fluid. Science!
Source: Engadget - The Universe Is Dying a Slow DeathIn probably the most uplifting and inspiring scientific discovery of all time, scientists are saying that the entire universe is slowly dying. Using radio telescopes at a much higher precision than ever before, a group of researchers measured the energy output of 200,000 galaxies and found that they are only producing half the energy they were two billion years ago.
It will likely be over a quintillion years before the lights really and truly go out - but why not take a nap in the meantime, this is exhausting information.
Source: Engadget - ISS Astronauts Eat the First Veggies Grown in SpaceIn a major milestone on The Road to a Mars Mission, astronauts living on the ISS ate the first crop of vegetables ever grown in space on August 10, 2015. The crop, a bed of lettuce called "Veg-01," was planted in July. The crew will dig in to half the crop, with the other half being sent back to Earth for analysis.
Source: Daily Mail - Scientists Say EM Drive Propulsion Is Actually PossibleThough previously thought to be impossible to achieve and accused of violating the laws of physics, scientists have presented some promising results.
The EM Drive (short for electro magnetic drive) uses electromagnetic microwave cavities to directly convert electrical energy to thrust without the need to expel any propellant - a pretty important factor when you are in space and any kind of propellant will alter your course (you saw Apollo 13, right?).
Source: Hacked - NASA Finds Kepler-452b: Earth's Older, Larger CousinThe Kepler Space Telescope has been tracking down planets for years now, but in July 2015 NASA announced that it had found Kepler-452b, an Earth-like planet with the same size orbit, around the same kind of star (a G Star, [not the jeans]), with the same year length, as Earth.
What makes this exoplanet more special than the others found by Kepler? The sunshine would be very similar to that on Earth, so plants brought there would be like "sure, lets photosynthesize!" Of the exoplanets tracked down by Kepler, 452b is the most similar to Earth so far.
Source: NASA - New Horizons Reaches PlutoAfter a 10 year, 3.6 billion mile mission, NASA's New Horizons space probe reached the Pluto-Charon system in early July 2015. The probe began gathering data and capturing images and transmitting them back to Earth for analysis. Scientists immediately began processing the data and will likely release many findings. Among the initial discoveries were that Pluto has four unique dark spots and a heart-shaped feature on its surface, and, most surprisingly, it has lumpy terrain and huge ice mountains. Scientists previously did not think that the dwarf planet would have any geology.
Source: NASA - Scientists Find a "Winged Dragon" Velociraptor AncestorScientists from the University of Edinburgh and the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences discovered a winged dinosaur fossil in northeast China, which they think was buried there by a volcanic eruption. As a result, the creature, measuring 6'6", was almost perfectly preserved in limestone. 125 million years old, it suggests that other dinosaurs, like the velociraptor, may have looked like "big, fluffy killer birds."
Source: BBC - Researchers Develop Bacon-Flavored SeaweedIt's better for you than kale is! Researchers at Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine Science Center have patented a new superfood they created, which they believe will be the next superfood to take the world by storm. The food, made of a new strain of red marine algae called "dulse" (sounds delicious!) looks like red lettuce, but tastes like bacon and offers more nutritional benefits (tons of minerals and proteins) than kale, say the researchers.
Source: TIME - Artificial Pancreas Could Help Diabetes Patients Regulate Blood SugarScientists have developed an implantable artificial pancreas. This device could help patients with Type 1 diabetes better control their blood sugar levels. The artificial pancreas continuously measures the user's glucose levels, using an algorithm designed by researchers, and will automatically release insulin as needed.
Source: Science Daily - Cat Videos Are Good for You
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Jessica Gall Myrick, of Indiana University Bloomington did the Lord's work. She undertook the daunting task of conducting a survey of over 6,500 people to find out whether or not watching cat videos can actually improve your mood.
As everyone on the Internet already knows, they totally can, and now science has proven it.
Source: IFL Science - New Google AI Can Learn Language and Carry on ConversationGoogle's new artificial intelligence can learn to speak and model language, have complex conversation, and "respond to inquiries about morality and philosophy. In tests, it mainly helped users solve computer problems, but development of this AI represents a huge step forward in the industry, as it can crate responses based on context.
Source: Bloomberg Business - 8 Minute Surgery Could Give Everyone Perfect VisionA revolutionary new lens, called the Ocumetics Bionic Lens, was developed in British Columbia by obtometrist Dr. Garth Webb. The lens would instantly give patients perfect vision, with no need for driving glasses, progressive lenses, or contact lenses. The lens would also prevent cataracts and could be implanted, through surgery, in just eight minutes.
Source: Collective Evolution - Skinny Jeans Are a Health ThreatSometimes fashion is painful, and in the case of skinny jeans, it can actually be a health threat. Wearing too tight jeans can lead to nerve damage, caused by excess pressure. This is bad news as it can lead to compartment syndrome, permanent muscle and nerve damage, and even amputation.
Source: NPR - The World Is in the Midst of a Sixth Mass ExtinctionAn analysis, published in Science Advances, builds on decades of debate and scientific research that says the world is currently in the midst of a sixth mass extinction, caused by humans, and likely to lead to our own demise.
Source: Science Advances - Even Nicotine-Free E-Cig Vapor Damages Lung CellsResearchers, who exposed both mouse and human cells to cigarette smoke and an e-cigarette solution, found that though the nicotine solution was more harmful, the solution that was free of nicotine also damaged lung cells. Those nicotine-free solutions still contained substances such as acrolein, which is harmful to the lung.
Source: American Physiological Society - Possible New Vaccine Blocks All HIV StrainsResearchers led by a team at the Scripps Research Institute have developed a new drug candidate that could potentially work as a new kind of vaccine, effective against HIV-1, HIV-2, and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV).
Source: Science Alert - Scientists Identify the First Warm-Blooded FishDescribed as something that looks like "a big startled frisbee, with thin red fins stuck on as an afterthought," the opah, a fish scientists have discovered has the distinction of being the only known warm-blooded fish on earth.
Source: National Geographic - International Researchers Discover a New State of MatterIt's not every day science discovers an entirely new state of matter! No longer just gas, solids, and liquids, now matter can also be in a state called the "Jahn-Teller metal. This cool state features localized electrons on the fullerene molecules, demonstrating co-existence with metallicity. Cool, right?!
This new state of matter opens up all kinds of new opportunities for the world of superconductors.
Source: AZOM - Researchers Create a Three Cent Lens That Turns Your Smartphone Into a MicroscopeDo you want to own a microscope, but only have three cents and an iPhone to your name? Well, great news because the University of Houston has created an optical lens that can be placed on your phone, turning it into a microscope. This could change the ways schools teach science, and has promising potential for small and/or isolated clinics that need access to a microscope, but cannot otherwise gain it.
Source: Science Daily - NASA Confirms There's a Space-Time Vortex Around EarthNASA confirmed, through an epic space-time experiment, that predictions of Albert Einstein's theory of gravity are correct: there is a space-time vortex around Earth. Space-time around Earth is distorted just as Einstein's theory predicted. How did they do this? Using Gravity Probe B, of course! The experiment resulted in 13 new technologies and Clifford Will, a professor and expert in Einstein's theories, says the discovery will one day be "written up in textbooks as one of the classic experiments in the history of physics."
Source: NASA - Tesla Announces Powerwall Solar BatteryTesla announced a new solution for home energy in 2015, with their Powerwall Home Battery, the first product from new business division, Tesla Energy. The company will focus on ending dependence on grid power, helping homeowners convert to solar energy. The Powerwall does just that. The stationary battery (a rechargeable lithium-ion) can power an entire household, off the grid.
Source: Techcrunch - Audi Invents "E-Diesel"German auto maker Audi is making a new combustion engine fuel called "e-diesel," using just water and carbon dioxide. The fuel is made by taking electricity from renewable sources to create hydrogen via reversible electrolysis. The hydrogen is combined with CO2 and the resulting reactions produce a liquid of long-chain hydrocarbons. Science, right?!
This fuel could have major impacts for climate change.
Source: Gizmag - Scientists Develop Mesh That Can Separate Water and OilResearchers at Ohio State University have created a stainless steel mesh which boasts an invisible oil-repelling surface coating. This makes it possible for water to pass through the mesh, while oil is trapped, filtering out the oil from the water. This could have huge implications for future oil spills and environmental cleanups.
Source: Phys.org - There's Water on MarsIn April 2015, NASA reported that their Curiosity rover had found water the below the Martian surface. Though still thought to be hostile to life, the discovery contradicts previous theories, which held that conditions on Mars were too cold and arid for liquid water to exist.
Source: The Guardian - Scientists Develop Batteries That Can Charge in SecondsAs technology develops at an ever more rapid pace, the one thing that can hold back development is the battery that powers your smart-gadget. However, engineers at the University of California have developed a supercapacitor that can store as much charge as a typical battery, but can be recharged in just seconds (as opposed to hours).
This new technology could have lasting impacts for hybrid and electric vehicles, space technology, and consumer electronics.
Source: PNAS - Fast Food and Supplements Work the Same (When it Comes to Exercise Recovery)Next time you reach for an energy bar after a major workout, know that a Double Double might do the trick as well! A study out of the University of Montana showed that the claims of superiority made by many diet supplements might not hold any weight, and that when it comes to recovering from strenuous workouts, fast food might provide just as much of an energy boost and as much recovery support as protein powder and Gatorade.
Source: Real Clear Science - Thousand-Year-Old Anglo-Saxon Remedy Kills MRSAOnce upon a time, a microbiologist and an Anglo-Saxon scholar decided to test a recipe they found in an Old English compendium called Bald's Leechbook. It turned out that the concoction actually seemed to alleviate infections that cause styes aka, the antibiotic resistant superbug MRSA. Made of leek and garlic, many who worked closely with the pair just thought they were cooking.
Source: New Scientist - Surgeons Perform the First Ever Successful Penis TransplantIn December 2014, Prof. André van der Merwe led a nine-hour surgery in South Africa that gave his 21-year-old patient a brand new working penis. The team initially thought it would take two years for the patient to recover and gain full use, but in fact, it only took four months.
By March 2015, the man, who had lost his penis in a botched circumcision three years earlier, was back to full health. The surgery was performed in Tygerberg Hospital in Bellville, Cape Town, and was the first time a long-term successful result was achieved.
"It's a massive breakthrough. We've proved that it can be done – we can give someone an organ that is just as good as the one that he had," said Prof Frank Graewe, another member of the team. "It was a privilege to be part of this first successful penis transplant in the world."
Source: Stellenbosch University - NASA Confirms Existence of an Ocean on One of Jupiter's MoonsJupiter's moon Ganymede, the largest moon in our solar system, has been lying to us for years. Beneath its surface there is, in fact, a giant ocean beneath its surface. Since 1970, scientists have suspected this, but only since observations made with the Hubble Space Telescope has NASA been able to prove the existence of the ocean. The telescope spotted aurorae (think the Northern Lights), which moved in a pattern consistent with the existence of an ocean, as oceans affect the behavior of aurorae.
Ganymede you tricky minx! Though still not the best place to look for life, this discovery does indicate that, as astronomer Heidi Hammel put it, "As far as we can tell, almost everywhere we look [in the solar system] there's water."
Source: The Verge - Oldest Human Fossils Found in EthiopiaResearchers have uncovered fossils of the genus Homo (which includes modern humans) that suggest the genus dates back at least 400,000 years earlier than previously thought.
The jawbone (creatively named LD 350-1) discovered in Ethiopia is somewhere between 2.5 and 2.8 million years old, placing it somewhere between Lucy (a famous ape-like Australopithecus that stood upright and had teeth similar to those of modern humans) and Homo habilis, one of the previously know earliest modern humans.
Source: Vocativ - Scientists Figure out Actual Average Size of Male PenisA study, published in the British Journal of Urology International says that the average size of an erect male penis is 5.16 inches long (or 13.12 centimeters). They can say this with authority after synthesizing data from 17 other academic papers and the combined measurements of over 15,000 men from all around the world.
The study used a very specific measuring technique and was also able to conclude that there is no strong evidence linking penis size to other physical features, including height, body mass index, or shoe size.
Source: Science - Tattoo Removal Cream Invented by Ph.D. StudentAlec Falkenham, a Ph.D. student at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, invented a topical cream that could eventually be used to remove embarrassing or unwanted tattoos. The cream works by killing the cells that hold tattoo pigment without damaging the surrounding cells (unlike laser removal, which heats the pigment and can cause cells to rupture).
So far, he has only tested the cream on mice, but it could make the leap to human tattoos in the near future (after some testing on larger animals like pigs, of course). When it does, it could be a much cheaper and less painful alternative to traditional removal.
Source: Global News - Artificial Protein Keeps Monkeys HIV FreeViral immunologist Michael Farzan of the Scripps Research Institute, along with over 30 coworkers, has built a molecule that is based on knowledge of how HIV infects cells. The protein mimics a human antibody and kept four monkeys HIV free, despite researchers having injected them with large doses of the virus.
Source: Science - There Might Not Have Been a Big Bang AfterallAccording to a new model, developed by physicists in Egypt and Canada, suggests that the universe may have existed forever. Their model is capable of accounting for the Big Bang singularity, something that previous theories and models, including the Big Bang Theory itself have not been capable of. In their model, the universe has no beginning and no end.
Source: PhysOrg - Biologists and Vets Figure out Why Cats Love BoxesIt's no mystery that cats love boxes, but where does this love come from? Behavioral biologists and veterinarians have come up with some answers. For starters, the ability to hide in a box seems to be tied to cats' stress levels, with boxes helping to ease their worried feline minds. Cats are also terrible at conflict resolution, so hiding in a box instead of meowing it out is an attractive alternative. Other cats might just be cold and looking for a cozy place to stay warm. It turns out corrugated cardboard is a great insulator!
Source: Wired - Sea Slugs Steal Genes from Algae and Learn to PhotosynthesizeScientists have known for years that the sea slug E. chlorotica could photosynthesize (turn CO2 into oxygen, like it was a plant or something), after it had ingested algae, but they weren't quite sure how. In February 2015, researcher Sidney Pierce and his team discovered that the slugs actually steal the algae's genes, specifically the prK gene, which plays an important role in photosynthesis in algae.
This is both super cool and considered the first example what is called "horizontal gene transfer" (or the more fun "kleptoplasty") in a multicellular organism. The slugs are the only known multicellular organism known to actually acquire functional genes from another species.
Source: io9 - Planet with Rings 200 Times Larger Than Saturn's DiscoveredA Dutch and American team of astronomers said they discovered a planet with a ring system that is 200 times larger than the system that famously surrounds the planet Saturn. The planet, which was discovered by the SuperWASP observatory, is the first planet of this kind to be discovered outside of our own solar system.
The team estimates the ring system is made up of 30+ rings, each of which is tens of millions of kilometers in diameter.
Source: BBC - Scientists Slow the Speed of LightA team of scientists in Scotland sent individual particles of light (called photons) through a special mask which changed their shape, and slowed their speed to less than light speed. And, interestingly, when returned to "free space" the light particles continued to travel at slower than light speeds.
Light speed is regarded as absolute, and though it slows when passing through certain materials, like glass and water, it usually speeds back up again. But not in this case. The discovery may change how scientists have to think about measuring distances in space, and may have some practical applications as well.
Source: BBC - Scientists Extend the Lifespan of Fruit FliesScientists at the University of Bern have considerably extended the lifespan of flies, but activating a specific gene that destroys unhealthy cells. The team, led by Eduardo Moreno, developed the new method, which selects cells that show less damage and negative effects from stress and "external insults" (like the sun's UV-rays). This method could have huge impacts and open new possibilities for human anti-aging research.
Source: Science Daily - Planet X (and Planet Y) Might Actually ExistPlanet X might actually exist, along with at least one other planet, located in space far beyond Pluto, according to the latest analysis of the orbits of what researchers call "extreme trans-Neptunian objects," or ETNOs. Researchers analyzing the patterns saw significantly different orbital characteristics than theory predicts.
Said lead author Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, "This excess of objects with unexpected orbital parameters makes us believe that some invisible forces are altering the distribution of the orbital elements of the ETNOs, and we consider that the most probable explanation is that other unknown planets exist beyond Neptune and Pluto."
Source: NBC News - Duke Announces First Laboratory Grown Contracting Human MuscleFor the first time ever in a lab, researchers have grown human skeletal muscle that contracts and responds to external stimuli the same way native tissue does. The team at Duke University grew the muscle using human cells that had progressed beyond stem cells, but weren't yet muscle tissue. The muscle responds to pharmaceuticals, electrical pulses, and other stimuli.
This discovery could revolutionize personalized medicine and drug discovery, as new drugs could possibly be tested without human subjects and enable doctors to grow a patient's muscle for testing, rather than take a painful or even impossible muscle biopsy.
Source: Duke University - New Species of Ichthyosaurs Discovered in ScotlandScientists discovered a new species of marine reptile on the Isle of Skye in Scotland in January 2014. The dolphin-like creature inhabited warm waters around Scotland 170 million years ago, and could be up to 14 feet long from snout to tail.
Source: The University of Edinburgh - First Man Made Leaf, with Implications for Space Travel, Is InventedJulian Melchiorri, a graduate of the Royal College of Art invented the first man-made, biologically functional leaf. The leaf, made of chloroplasts and silk protein is capable of absorbing carbon dioxide and light, and releasing breathable oxygen. This has huge implications for the future of long distance space travel, which is often limited by oxygen supplies.
Source: CNet - First New Antibiotic in 30 Years Is DiscoveredScientists announced in January 2015 that they had discovered the first new antibiotic in almost 30 years. Teixobactin was found to treat a number of common bacterial infections (tuberculosis, C. diff, etc.) and could help prevent the growing resistance to other antibacterial drugs.
The team of scientists at Northwestern University discovered the new drug using new methods, which could be a promising first step towards discovering even more new anitbiotics. Teixobactin could be available in as soon as five years.
Source: The Telegraph
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