This week on radio, Tim Thwaites is talking about ditching fingers for bean bags; evolving to beat climate change; the downside of space tourism; running before breakfast; and more…
1. Exercise first, eat later—Early morning exercise may be a drag, but researchers in New Zealand have found that those who train before breakfast get more benefit than those who eat first. They use oxygen more efficiently, show a greater increase in peak power, and store more energy.—Australasian Science.
An Australasian Science report can be found at http://www.australasianscience.com.au/article/issue-september-2010/exercise-first-eat-later.html
2. Past climate change influenced human evolution—The Yoruba people who live on the fringes of the Sahara show a genetic adaptation to retaining water, say US researchers. And they appear to have acquired it at the same time the climate changed to become drier. In the same way, we may become taller and slimmer to radiate heat better as an adaptation to climate change, some scientists suggest.—Nature Geoscience
A New Scientist report can be found at http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20827832.800-past-climate-change-influenced-human-evolution.html
3. Space tourism could accelerate climate change—The soot emitted during a decade of commercial space flight could potentially alter conditions in the stratosphere, US researchers estimate. This could increase polar surface temperatures by 1 °C and reduce sea ice by between 5 and 15 per cent—Geophysical Research Letters
A Nature report can be found at http://www.nature.com/news/2010/101022/full/news.2010.558.html
4. Most distant galaxy ever found sheds light on infant cosmos Observations by European astronomers on the most distant object yet discovered go a long way to supporting models of the early Universe. Because the light has taken so long to reach us, it shows the galaxy as it was when it was just 100 million years old.—Nature
A Nature report can be found at http://www.nature.com/news/2010/101020/full/news.2010.552.html
5. Robots could ditch fingers for beanbags—It turns out that opposable thumbs aren’t critical for getting a good grip on things. Neither are fingers. American scientists have built a robotic arm that can do everything from serving drinks to drawing pictures, even though it has no digits.—Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
A New Scientist report can be found at http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19623-robots-could-ditch-fingers-for-beanbags.html
6. Please keep your shoes on—Soon you could be spared having to take off your shoes as you go through security at airports. American chemists have developed a hand-held sensor that quickly detects triacetone triperoxide, the explosive of choice for prospective shoe bombers. The new technique could also be used to sniff out other dangerous substances.—Journal of the American Chemical Society
A Science report can be found at http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2010/10/attention-passengers-please-keep.html
7. Big cats need their background habitat to survive—Zoologists have confirmed that the markings on the big cats reflect where they live. So much so that that in order to protect the cats, you need to protect their habitat as well.—Proceedings of the Royal Society B
A Science report can be found at http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2010/10/scienceshot-seeing-spots-must-be.html
8. Black and white butterflies show their true colours—Colourful male butterflies often get the girls, but they also leave themselves open to predators, researchers have shown.—The American Naturalist
A Science report can be found at http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2010/10/scienceshot-black-and-white.html
9. Vaccines could help spread elephantitis—The parasitic worms that cause elephantitis can adjust their behaviour to the activity of their host’s immune system. As a result as well as providing protection, potential vaccines aid the spread of the nasty condition.—Public Library of Science Biology
A New Scientist report can be found at http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20827833.200-vaccines-could-help-elephantiasis-spread.html
10. Exercise boosts muscle stem cells—Endurance exercise, such as running, doesn’t only tone the muscles, it enhances the production of muscle stem cells as well. Since these are the cells responsible for regeneration, exercise could be a real weapon against ageing, researchers argue— Public Library of Science, ONE
A Science report can be found at http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2010/10/scienceshot-exercise-boosts-musc.html