This week on radio, Tim Thwaites is talking about how bugs control our lives; how “now” is three seconds long; fish parasites; single-bladed helicopters; and more
The 3-second rule—Hugs take about three seconds, according to a behavioural scientist in Scotland. And that’s the same time as goodbye waves, musical phrases and babies babbling, as well as a myriad other body movement patterns in deer, racoons, pandas, giraffes and kangaroos. In fact, what constitutes “the present” in mammals seems to last 3 seconds.—Journal of Ethology
A Science story on this topic can be found at http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2011/01/hugs-follow-a-3-second-rule.html?ref=hp
Do gut bugs practise mind control—Microbes appear to help shape brain development in mice, researchers in Sweden and Singapore have found, through regulating the activity of genes and levels of proteins. If the same thing is true of humans, it could lead to new ways of treating depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders.—Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
A Science story on this topic can be found at http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2011/01/do-gut-bugs-practice-mind-contro.html?ref=hp
Bugs can control the sex of a spider’s offspring—Wolbachia bacteria, which infect up to two-thirds of insect species, are transmitted via eggs. Thus, they have a vested interest in skewing sex ratios towards females, and a bag of dirty tricks which allows them to do so. Belgium entomologists have now found they get up to the same mischief in spiders.—BMC Evolutionary Biology
A New Scientist story on this topic can be found at http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20927974.500-bug-to-spider-i-will-control-your-offsprings-sex.html
Babies size up the social scene—In many species, bigger is better. Now, American scientists have found that children as young as 10 months use size as a cue to interpret who’s boss.—Science
A Science story on this topic can be found at http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2011/01/babies-size-up-the-social-scene.html?ref=hp
Protein hormone can boost memory—Preliminary work in rats suggests that a hormone that promotes growth and repair in certain cells may be instrumental in the formation and retention of memory. The US researchers suggest their work might one day lead to a treatment for Alzheimer’s and other dementias.—Nature
A Nature story on this topic can be found at http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110126/full/news.2011.49.html
Time stretches if you keep busy—People with busy lives don’t necessarily live longer—they just feel as if they do. British researchers have found that our brains use the world around us to keep track of time. The more there is going on, the slower time feels.—Current Biology
A New Scientist story on this topic can be found at http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20927974.400-time-stretches-if-you-keep-busy.html
Life expectancy falling behind in the US—Children born in Japan today can expect to live about five years longer than their American counterparts. Life expectancy in the US has risen more slowly than other rich countries because of smoking, overeating and lack of exercise, a US National Research Council panel has found.—New Scientist
A New Scientist story on this topic can be found at http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20927972.800-life-expectancy-rising-slowly-in-the-us.html
Spinning seeds inspire single-bladed helicopters—A mini-helicopter modelled on spiralling tree seeds could soon take to the air. Scaling down the design of conventional helicopters ends up with aircraft that expend most of their power trying to stay aloft. US researchers reckon they have found the answer in a single-bladed design.—New Scientist
A New Scientist story on this topic can be found at http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20045-spinning-seeds-inspire-singlebladed-helicopters.html
Cocoon protects sleeping fish from parasites—How do the reef fish who patronise cleaner fish during the day cope at night when the cleaners are all asleep? Queensland marine biologists have found that they wrap themselves in mucous to prevent being attacked by the parasites which take their blood and spread disease.—Australasian Science
An Australasian Science story on this topic can be found in the latest issue.
How the footy finals can break your heart—Watching a close game in which your team is playing is such an immersive experience, that some fans actually die of excitement, analyses of the US Super Bowl and the 2008 World Cup finals have shown.—Clinical Cardiology
A New Scientist blog on this topic can be found at http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2011/02/how-the-super-bowl-can-break-y.html
Did Vikings navigate by polarised light?—Polarising crystals could have helped ancient sailors cross the northern Atlantic by revealing the position of the sun on cloudy days, according to European researchers—Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B
A Nature story on this topic can be found at http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110131/full/news.2011.58.html