Transparent eel-like soft robot can swim silently underwater
An innovative, eel-like robot developed by engineers and marine biologists at the University of California can swim silently in salt water without an electric motor. Instead, the robot uses artificial muscles filled with water to propel itself. The foot-long robot, which is connected to an electronics board that remains on the surface, is also virtually […]
Flat-Earthers Explain Why We Don’t Fall Off the Edge of Our Planet, and It Involves Pac-Man
More than 200 flat-Earth enthusiasts descended on West Midlands, England, this past weekend to “engage freely in deep and meaningful discussions,” according to the Flat Earth Convention UK. The Earth’s glorious globular-ness was proved more than 2,000 years ago by the ancient Greeks, but there’s a small subset of people who think the planet is a disk […]
Meta-Analysis Identifies 30 New Genetic Risk Factors for Major Depression
A new genome-wide association meta-analysis has identified 44 genomic variants (loci) that have a significant association with major depression. Of these 44 loci, 30 are newly discovered while 14 had been identified in previous studies. In addition, the analysis identified 153 significant genes, and found that major depression shared 6 loci that are also associated with […]
Female sexual behavior in mice is controlled by kisspeptin neurons
ABSTRACT Sexual behavior is essential for the survival of many species. In female rodents, mate preference and copulatory behavior depend on pheromones and are synchronized with ovulation to ensure reproductive success. The neural circuits driving this orchestration in the brain have, however, remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that neurons controlling ovulation in the mammalian brain […]
3-D human ‘mini-brains’ shed new light on genetic underpinnings of major mental illness
Major mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, severe depression and bipolar disorder share a common genetic link. Studies of specific families with a history of these types of illnesses have revealed that affected family members share a mutation in the gene DISC1. While researchers have been able to study how DISC1 mutations alter the brain during […]
Nuclear techniques unlock the structure of a rare type of superconducting intermetallic alloy
Nuclear techniques have played an important role in determining the crystal structure of a rare type of intermetallic alloy that exhibits superconductivity. The research, which was recently published in the Accounts of Chemical Research, was a undertaking led by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, with the collaboration of the Ivan-Franko […]
New imaging system makes back surgery safer, faster and less expensive
Dartmouth engineers and physicians develop innovative stereovision system Hanover, N.H. – Researchers at Dartmouth College have found a way to make back surgery safer, faster and more cost effective. MRIs and CT scans help surgeons identify spine problems, like compressed vertebrae or herniated disks, but finding a clear path to those problem areas is not […]
Hollings Cancer Center immunologist inducted into Association of American Physicians
Physician scientist and Hollings Cancer Center immunologist Zihai Li, M.D., Ph.D., was inducted into the Association of American Physicians (AAP). The prestigious honorary medical society, founded in 1885, serves as one of the nation’s leading professional organizations for physician scientists. Each year, nominees for membership undergo rigorous review and a competitive selection process. An expert […]
Photosynthesis in plants key to speedy evolution
In a study of 11 different plant species, published in Molecular Biology and Evolution, researchers at the University of Oxford have shown that the speed at which plants evolve is linked to how good they are at photosynthesis. The team from the Oxford Department of Plant Sciences detected differences in plant gene evolution that could […]
Sexy Sensations – The Interplay of The Senses in Sexual Attraction
Our senses serve the purpose of relaying information about our environment back to the brain, where it is deconstructed, made sense of and then acted upon. Some of this information may actually bypass our conscious awareness and have the ability to activate an emotional reaction, all without our knowing! To continue with our series on […]