Prehistoric healthcare, pessimistic dogs and more. Tim on radio this week.

Tim’s blog

This week on radio, Tim Thwaites is talking about the first embryonic stem cell trial; that amazing substance—water; prehistoric healthcare; the mental health of dogs; and more…First human embryonic stem cell trialAn American with spinal injuries has become the first ever person to receive treatment derived from human embryonic stem cells. The unnamed person has been injected with progenitor nerve cells in Atlanta, Georgia in the hope that it will help overcome paralysis. The primary goal of the trial is to ensure the treatment is safe.—New Scientist and others

A New Scientist report can be found at http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19570-first-person-treated-in-milestone-stem-cell-trial.html

The first known ancient invalidA man who lived about half a million years ago is the most elderly ancient human ever found. He was about 45, a hunchback, too old to hunt and probably needed a cane. In fact, he was so infirm, according to Spanish scientists, that he would have needed looking after.—Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

A New Scientist report can be found at http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19568-huntergatherers-cared-for-first-known-ancient-invalid.html

Too much screen time is bad for active kids too—Children who watch TV or play computer games for more than two hours a day are likely to have poor concentration, behave badly and have social problems, British scientists have found. And it doesn’t matter if they physically active—Pediatrics

A New Scientist report can be found at http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19560-too-much-screen-time-is-bad-for-active-kids-too.html

Water cycle falters as the world warms upEarth’s water cycle has been pushed to the limit. The amount of water evaporating off the land and into the atmosphere hit a maximum 12 years ago, and is now in decline, according to German researchers. That means less water for rain, and bad news for dry countries like Australia.—Nature

A New Scientist report can be found at http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19565-water-cycle-goes-bust-as-the-world-gets-warmer.html

At the smallest scale, water’s far from dull—New simulations reveal that water molecules join up into two different types of structures that break apart and recombine at lightning speed. Such complexity might be the reason for life as we know it, say European chemists.—Journal of Physical Chemistry B

A Science report can be found at http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2010/10/at-the-smallest-scale-water-is-a.html

Is your dog pessimistic?About a third of dogs display some sort of behavioural problem when their owners leave home—like howling, peeing or chewing up the remote control. British researchers think they have found out why—they’re pessimistic about life.—Current Biology

A Science report can be found at http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2010/10/is-your-dog-pessimistic.html