clhs sciblog

Musings on current happenings in science from our little slice of the world.

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Entries from May 30th, 2008

Malaria Parasites “Family Plan”

May 30th, 2008 · No Comments · Biology

A new study from the scientists of Edinburgh University has discovered that Malaria Parasites will produce more males than females when they meet difficult conditions. Normally these parasites will produce more females, but under harsher conditions, such as an attack from an immune system, they tend to produce more males in order to increase the [...]

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Red Rain Could Prove That Aliens Exist

May 29th, 2008 · No Comments · Biology, Chemistry

There is a small bottle containing a red fluid on a shelf in Sheffield University’s microbiology laboratory. The liquid looks cloudy and uninteresting. Yet, if one group of scientists is correct, the phial contains the first samples of extraterrestrial life isolated by researchers. Inside the bottle are samples left over from one of the strangest [...]

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Monkeys Control Robotic Arms

May 29th, 2008 · 4 Comments · Physics

Scientists have trained monkeys to control robotic arms with their thoughts. The scientist restrained the monkeys’ arms and positioned robotic ones in their place. Within a few days, the monkeys were able to control these arms and eat using them. Scientist hope that in the near future, humans who have lost limbs, can use these [...]

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New Threat to Spotted Owl

May 29th, 2008 · No Comments · Biology

In a recent discovery, scientist Heather Ishak has discovered that a blood parasite is being transferred from the Barred Owl to the Spotted Owl via mosquitoes. This parasite has the ability, if not contained to end up wiping out the Spotted Owl from the earth. This is important because the Spotted Owl is already endangered. [...]

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A Diabetic’s Diet- Cocoa?

May 28th, 2008 · No Comments · Biology

A hospital in Aachen, Germany, has recently done a study that suggests drinking cocoa can improve the health of those inflicted with diabetes. According to the study, cocoa can help improve blood vessel function and can reduce the risk of having cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death among those with diabetes. The [...]

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Organic Free Grazing Cows Are Cream Of The Crop

May 28th, 2008 · No Comments · Biology

When a study was done in UK, they noticed that cows produce better products when they are grazed in organic farms. Their products have higher beneficial fatty acids and other stuff like that. This study showed the difference in products produced by cows. Scientists came to the conclussion that antibiotics in dairy products should be minimised. It [...]

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Laysan Albatross Employs ‘Dual Mommies’

May 28th, 2008 · 1 Comment · Biology

On Oahu, Hawaii the Laysan Albatross are short on males. So what are the females suppose to do when it comes to raising the family? They call in another female of course. THe laysan Albatross have come up with a unique way to help each other take care of their families and re-colonize islands.

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Whale Populations Grow

May 28th, 2008 · 1 Comment · Biology

Although in some areas they have not increased since protection for the whales was inacted in the 70s, as a whole, the number of North Pacific Humpback Whales are on a rise. There is a facinating article about it here that proves I’m not making this up. This is good news because if this mammal [...]

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HIV drug + gold = a good combo

May 28th, 2008 · No Comments · Chemistry

Gold was added to a failed HIV drug making it able to stop the spread of HIV throughout the body. The problem wiht the original drug was that when in the body the ammonium salt dissolved causing the drug to lose its pottency. Reasearchers turned to gold to give it the ammonium salt the drug [...]

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Mind over Matter

May 28th, 2008 · 1 Comment · Biology

Recent studies at The University Pittsburg School of Medicine show that if a monkey has its arms restrained, it can still feed itself with its brain. Dr. Andrew Schwartz of this University states that “Ultimately, our goal is to better understand brain complexity. Monkeys use Computer software that interprets signals picked up by probes the [...]

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