Science News

Best Science Photos of the Week

admin — Sat, 26 May 2012 13:45:01 +0000

From amazing shots of the annular eclipse to newly discovered species, we have some amazing photos for you this week.

Extinctions Drive Ongoing ‘Ecological Retreat’ By Surviving Species

admin — Sat, 26 May 2012 04:51:51 +0000

Brett Smith for Redorbit.com

A new study on the extinctions of species suggests that the disappearance of one species does not necessarily allow remaining competitor species to thrive by filling in the vacuum.

researchers studying lemur extinctions over the past 2,000 years, found that changes in inter-species dynamics via extinction can force that remaining species to go into a so-called “ecological retreat” that may not be suited to the extant animal’s evolution.

The study, published in the online edition of the, said radiocarbon and isotope analysis from fossils of extinct lemur species showed the type of habitat in which the primates lived, what they ate, when they became extinct and whether other still-extant species filled vacated their environmental habitats.

The UC research team, led by Brooke Crowley, was able to show that prior to extensive human interruption, lemurs inhabited the woody savannah and spiny thicket found in southwestern Madagascar. Today, the island nation’s lemurs exist primarily in protected areas of thick forest.

“The reasons behind the increased reliance on densely forested habitats are uncertain, but it’s likely that low hunting and logging pressures in forest reserves are contributing factors,” said Crowley, assistant professor of anthropology and geology at the university.

Interestingly, after the larger-sized lemurs that once inhabited those regions went extinct, their smaller counterparts could not fill the empty niches that were left behind. Instead, contemporary lemur species have shown increasing reliance on habitats with dense forest cover.

“It’s been assumed that lemurs were in the forests because that’s where the resources that best suited them were,” Crowley said.

“Our fossil analysis shows that lemur species once preferred a much wider, more distinctive habitat range, which may mean that modern lemurs prefer the densely forested areas simply because these areas offer greater protection. The forest is more of a refuge.”

Crowley noted that while forested areas have had some human disturbance, the unprotected open areas where lemur species once flourished have seen even greater disturbances. In addition to the usual encroachments of civilization, the Madagascar countryside has likely seen the effects of political and military instability with the country on the brink of civil war many times during the past decade.

The UC team’s findings could explain why some other researchers previously reported finding inconsistencies between the extant lemur species’ anatomy and their observed behavior in the dense forest environments. These mismatches could be indications that today’s lemurs are in retreat and at greater risk because they are not living in their preferred habitats.

“In other words,” explained Crowley, “We now have long-term historical data, a broadened historical perspective indicating that what lemurs are doing today – preferring densely forested areas – is not representative of their ecological niche over past millennia. That’s an indication that we need to rethink our assumptions on their current habitat choices and on our own conservation efforts. And this form of historically informed research can also be applied to other locales and animals to benefit threatened species.”

Crowley laid the groundwork for this study with her previous research involving radioactive isotope techniques and applications in the course of primate study. Her findings were published last year in the.

First Video Captured by Google Glasses Hits the Web

admin — Sat, 26 May 2012 02:05:18 +0000

Google shows how its augmented reality glasses can capture video of life in motion.

15 Ways to Accelerate Your PC’s Slowest Component: You!

admin — Sat, 26 May 2012 01:58:19 +0000

The slowest part of your PC laptop sits between the keyboard and the chair. Find out how to break the human bottleneck with 15 tips.

High-speed method to aid search for solar energy storage catalysts

admin — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:33:54 +0000

Eons ago, nature solved the problem of converting solar energy to fuels by inventing the process of photosynthesis.

High-speed method to aid search for solar energy storage catalysts

admin — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:52:52 +0000

Scientist have developed a new high-throughput method to identify electrocatalysts for water oxidation.

Structure of human protein critical for silencing genes solved

admin — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:52:52 +0000

Scientists have described the three-dimensional atomic structure of a human protein bound to a piece of RNA that "guides" the protein's ability to silence genes. The protein, Argonaute-2, is a key player in RNA interference, a powerful cellular phenomenon that has important roles in diverse biological processes, including an organism's development.

Math predicts size of clot-forming cells

admin — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:52:52 +0000

Mathematicians have helped biologists figure out why platelets, the cells that form blood clots, are the size and shape that they are. Because platelets are important both for healing wounds and in strokes and other conditions, a better understanding of how they form and behave could have wide implications.

10 Things a Real Geek Would Never Do

admin — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:24:17 +0000

Here are 10 things you need to avoid if you want to be known as a geek.

Harnessing Plant-Invading Fungi for Fuel

admin — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:00:41 +0000

As gas prices rise around the world, researchers are seeking a potential solution from fungi

Mars or Bust! Scientists Flood NASA With 400 Ideas to Explore Red Planet

admin — Fri, 25 May 2012 19:54:48 +0000

NASA asked for help in reformulating its Mars exploration strategy. Boy did it get it.

Private Dragon Capsule Arrives at Space Station in Historic First

admin — Fri, 25 May 2012 19:37:03 +0000

It's the first time astronauts have ever captured a commercial spacecraft in orbit.

Grill Science: 5 Sizzling Tips for a Tasty Memorial Day

admin — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:30:34 +0000

Some juicy science to make your grill-out fun and tasty.

2-Minute Expert: How Do I Avoid Blurry Photos?

admin — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:22:22 +0000

Changing one setting or how you hold the camera can make your pictures much sharper.

Battle of the Bosses: Men May Take More Heat for Mistakes

admin — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:02:44 +0000

The gender of a leader can influence how their mistakes are received, a study indicates.

Cancer may require simpler genetic mutations than previously thought

admin — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:01:01 +0000

Scientists have long known that cancer cells can proliferate by deleting both copies of the tumor suppressor genes that would otherwise kill them. Now research shows they can also grow by deleting single copies of the genes, especially when clusters of those genes appear randomly on a chromosome. The discovery sheds new light on tumorigenesis and explains why large genomic deletions show up so often in cancer cells.

Rare Sumatran rabbit photographed

admin — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:01:01 +0000

Researchers say the rare rabbit may now be found only in two remote national parks on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, and conservation is critical.

SpaceX Dragon attached to International Space Station In spaceflight first

admin — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:42:42 +0000

The International Space Station's Expedition 31 crew grappled and attached SpaceX's Dragon capsule to the space station Friday (May 25, 2012). This is the first time a commercial company has accomplished this type of space operation.

Hologram-Style Avatars Ready to Greet Airport Travelers

admin — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:29:04 +0000

Today's hologram-like virtual avatars stand ready to greet NYC airport travelers, but tomorrow's interactive versions may answer questions directly.

Living to 100: Personality & Good Genes May Be Key

admin — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:28:59 +0000

Having a positive outlook maybe related to your genes, and the likelihood you'll make it to 100.