17 Apr, 2014 | by Labroots
Bird Flu Could Easily Become Current News AgainIt was just a few years ago that bird flu was a topic of concern in science news. Now, a new study shows that the concern over the virus making the transition to mammals could occur with just five mutations. H5N1 avian influenza was tested previously on ferrets, leading to the assumption that the virus had the potential to turn into a pandemic virus. While the research was controversial, the virus...... Read More
16 Apr, 2014 | by Labroots
Groundbreaking Data Set on How Mammalian Brains Are WiredThe publication of the first comprehensive, large-scale data set on the way mammalian brains are wired has proven to be some of the most exciting science in the news to date. This publication provides a data resource that gives new insight into how the nervous system in mammals processes information. Researchers from the Allen Institute for Brain Science published their landmark paper in the scientific...... Read More
15 Apr, 2014 | by Labroots
Touched Female Cockroaches Reproduce FasterNot that there are many reasons for improving the efficiency of reproduction in cockroaches, but a new study has determined that nothing beats a gentle touch to get the process in high gear. Researchers at North Carolina State University used duck feathers as artificial antennae to determine whether their touch could speed up reproduction in cockroach females. The study in tactile stimulation and reproduction...... Read More
14 Apr, 2014 | by Labroots
Americans Using More Renewable, Fossil and Nuclear EnergyThe annual energy flow charts released by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory illustrate how much energy is being used by the nation. The sheets released for 2013 show that Americans increased their energy use last year by 2.3 quadrillion thermal units, in comparison with the usage in 2012. In addition, the carbon dioxide emissions for the same year increased to 5,390, the first time there has...... Read More
11 Apr, 2014 | by Labroots
Remember the Golden Guides?The Golden Guides, which were originally titled Golden Nature Guides, were widely available in the 1950s. They were primarily intended for children who were inclined toward science. Written by experts and profusely illustrated, the series covered subjects such Birds (1949), Flowers (1950), Fishes (1955) and Mammals (1955), and then expanded to a wider range of subjects, including Hallucinogenic Plants...... Read More
09 Apr, 2014 | by Labroots
It Beat Jeopardy, Now It’s Taking on Cancer.IBM recently announced that its Watson supercomputer, which grew to fame on the TV game show Jeopardy, will be teaming up with the New York Genome Center (NYGC) to help doctors develop personalized treatments for cancer patients based on their genetic makeup. Genetic information obtained though genome sequencing has the potential to help clinicians tailor treatment for individual cancer patients....... Read More
07 Apr, 2014 | by Labroots
One Species of Drosophila Flies Turning Into PestsFruit flies have long been used for all types of studies. Many species exist, and only one has been identified as being a crop pest. Researchers from the University of California recently explained the similarities and crucial differences between this species and the others. They also expanded on the idea of why another close relative has the potential to become a pest, as well. Drosophila flies...... Read More
04 Apr, 2014 | by Labroots
Big Bang Theory Gets a BoostResearchers claim that they have discovered evidence that proves the universe was created in only a matter of a split second. The discovery is based on an idea called âCosmic Inflationâ -- a different take on the Big Bang theory. The experiment that led to the discovery was conducted by a team of astronomers with John Kovac from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics leading the team....... Read More
01 Apr, 2014 | by Labroots
Archeologists’ Discovery Proves Cancer Not a New WorryThe discovery of a 3,000 year-old human skeleton is proof that cancer is not a modern-day illness. Originally reported in the academic journal PLOS ONE, the discovery was made by a Durham University PhD student in a tomb in modern Sudan in 2013. The most complete skeleton this old with metastatic cancer dates back to 1200BC. A Science Daily news article explains that the skeleton was that of a young...... Read More
28 Mar, 2014 | by Labroots
Not feeling well? Maybe this will helpWhen it comes to advancing medical technology, the family dog isnât the first thing that comes to mind. But that is exactly what is on the mind of Professor Daniel Mills from the UKâs University of Lincolnâs School of Life Sciences and his colleague Dr. Sophie Hall. In an article that appeared in a recent issue of the Veterinary Record, they discuss the therapeutic effects of companion animals,...... Read More