Ask Away August 9, 2007
Posted by Miss Weird Scientist in Animals, Dogs, Easy As Pie, Feedback, Human Body, Psychology and Behavior.3 comments
I have received lots of emails asking me questions about the weird science blog. Although I replied individually to the emails, I thought it might be fun to share some of the questions and answers here. So, I’m taking a little time away from the usual science news to give some Mina news, so to speak.
Why did you do a blog instead of the other kinds of websites?
I always knew that an online magazine was not the style for me. I like to write. I mean, I really like to write – even in my spare time! The blog format is perfect for daily updates. Let’s face it – science is constantly changing and I like being able to write entries each day. I also like the casual, conversational style that flows more easily in a blog format. The worst – or maybe it’s really the best – part of blogging about science is that it’s addictive!
What’s your favorite part of science?
That’s like asking me to choose between milk and white chocolate! Do I have to answer that? Ok – my favorite part of science would have to be the medical/ health side. I still enjoy other scientific disciplines but the human body is fascinating and it’s an area that always keeps me intrigued and curious.
What kind of dog do you have and how long have you had him?
This question was in response to my post about antidepressants for dogs. My dog is a year and a half old (I’ve had him since he was a puppy!) and he is a miniature American Eskimo. He also sheds on a regular basis so I’m usually covered in white fur!
Still have questions? You can fire off an email to me by using the contact form.
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Good News For Math Students August 8, 2007
Posted by Miss Weird Scientist in Easy As Pie, Human Body, Psychology and Behavior.add a comment
Ever wondered if the courses you’re taking now will help you perform better when you go to university? A joint study led by Robert Tai of the University of Virginia and Philip Sadler of Harvard University recently checked this out. The study found that high school coursework in one of the sciences did not predict better performance in other science courses. Hang on though because there is one exception. Gulp. It’s mathematics! The students who received intensive mathematics education did significantly better in biology, chemistry and physics courses at university. The study was funded by the National Science Foundation and the results were published in the journal Science.
Physics First – Not Anymore
One educational movement called Physics First has been arguing that physics underlies biology and chemistry. Therefore, they want the traditional order of high school sciences – biology, chemistry and then physics – to basically be reversed. This recent study by Sadler and Tai, however, conflicts with the Physics First movement by suggesting that it’s math – not physics – that can benefit students at the university level.
Obvious Stuff
As expected, students who took a specific science course in high school – chemistry, for example – did better in university level chemistry. But taking chemistry didn’t boost up marks in other science subjects such as physics or biology. It was only when mathematics was studied at the high school level that biology, chemistry and physics performances were all boosted at the university level. Also, those students who completed the most coursework in high school mathematics fared the best in science courses taken at university.
Good Or Bad News?
It’s good, regardless of whether you’re a fan of math! Students who adore math can rejoice at the study findings. You can consider it a bonus that math in high school offers an advantage in university level science courses. For the rest of the population, which probably includes those who tolerate math and those who despise it, you’ll still have to struggle your way through. Fortunately, you’ll experience greater success in university science courses, some of which can be very challenging!
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Fat Cats Beware August 7, 2007
Posted by Miss Weird Scientist in Animals, Cats, Tough Stuff.4 comments
If you’ve got a cute, furry cat roaming around your flat or house, you might want to keep an eye on your beloved pet’s waistline. Not only is the incidence of diabetes rising in humans but it’s also rising in cats. To put it simply: a fat cat is at a higher risk for diabetes. Professor Danielle Gun-Moore of Edinburgh University led a recent study, which was published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. The study looked at 14,000 cats and found that 1 in 230 pet cats in the United Kingdom is diabetic.
Diabetes And Blood Sugar
If you’re not familiar with diabetes, here’s a quick primer on the condition. Diabetes is a condition where the body can’t keep blood sugar at a normal level. See, your blood sugar is part of a finely tuned system. It likes to stay within a very comfortable and narrow range. In a healthy person, the body works to successfully maintain that narrow range. Whenever you eat food, that food is converted into an energy form known as glucose. After a meal, your blood glucose level goes up and your body wants to bring it back down to its favorite level. To accomplish that, it releases the hormone insulin from beta cells in the pancreas. Then, the insulin helps to transport glucose out of the bloodstream and into your body’s cells. This brings your blood sugar back into its desirable narrow range! On the flip side, if your blood sugar is low – like when you’re exercising or in between meals – alpha cells in your pancreas secrete a different hormone called glucagon. It’s a smart hormone because it triggers your body’s cells to release the glucose back into the bloodstream, effectively raising your blood sugar and bringing it back to that narrow range it adores so much.
So, what happens in diabetes? Well, in type 1 diabetes, the pancreas isn’t producing insulin, so it can’t keep blood sugar in that nice, narrow range. In type 2 diabetes, some insulin is produced but its regulation is abnormal, so the body’s cells can’t use it properly. The end result? Blood sugar gets elevated and when it’s too high, a person experiences some icky symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss and sickness.
Fat Cats
You might be wondering what fat has to do with diabetes? Just like humans, cats who are overweight have a higher risk of insulin resistance. This risk occurs because fat interferes with the body’s ability to use insulin. It’s thought that an overweight cat is three times more likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes in comparison with one at a healthy weight.
Keep Your Cat Healthy
Just like humans, cats can overeat, so be sure to feed your cat normal portions of a healthy cat food. Housebound cats may get less exercise, so try to let your cat roam whenever possible. You might also have to lay down the law and say no to giving your cat regular treats. Give your wee friend a cuddle instead!
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World’s Snappiest Creature Award August 6, 2007
Posted by Miss Weird Scientist in Animals, Easy As Pie, Insects.add a comment
The award for the world’s snappiest creature goes to the termite. A measly little creature, it snaps its jaws with a strength and speed rivaling all other animals. Formally known as Termes Panamensis, the termite’s jaws have some special properties that provide its power and speed.
Who Figured That One Out?
The news was recently announced at the Eighth International Congress of Neuroethology in Vancouver, Canada – close to home for my fellow British Columbian readers. Marc Seid and Jeremy Niven of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama filmed the termite’s jaws at 40,000 frames per second, showing a speed of 70.4 meters per second over a distance of 1.76 millimeters!
A Threatened Termite
When challenged by an intruder, a termite will use four sets of enormous muscles to aggressively smash the bits of its mouth together. In fact, these muscles are so massive that they take up half the space in the termite’s head. All of this power and force then lets the termite rapidly snap at the intruder. Also, the termite’s teeth work like a saw, biting with razor-like strength, which is propelled by those strong muscles.
Now don’t go and get any ideas about trying to beat out the termite by practicing your own snapping skills. I really don’t need any of your parents emailing me to complain about your chipped teeth!
Credit: Pictures provided by the United States Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service.
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The Science Of Sculptures August 5, 2007
Posted by Miss Weird Scientist in Easy As Pie, Human Body, Neat Science Jobs.2 comments
Would you believe me if I told you that these pictures show sculptures created by a man with no formal art training? Well, it’s true. Credit for this extraordinary work goes to a unique man named Ron Mueck.
Ron Mueck has a super interesting background. Born in Melbourne, Australia in 1958, he originally started working as a puppet maker! He worked for many children’s shows, starting with an Australian one before doing shows such as Sesame Street and The Muppets. In 1996 he made a sculpture of Pinnochio, which was noticed by Charles Saatchi, a prominent art collector. Soon after, Saatchi included Mueck in the exhibition Sensation, which opened in London, England.
The process is not an easy one! First, Mueck has to decide on the figure’s pose and placement. He makes several small clay models by using photos or live models as a guide. Then, he creates drawings as he decides on the sculpture scale – big or small. The major part – the sculpting – comes next as Mueck sculpts and adds visual life to the figure, creating its shape and expression. When Mueck is working on a very large figure, he first has to build a special metal frame, wrap it with wire mesh and then coat it with plaster strips before covering the entire contraption in clay. He uses this clay figure to create a mould and then takes a cast of silicone or fiberglass if it’s a huge figure. The final, finishing touches involve paint and hair to give his sculptures an astounding, life-like quality.
More Mueck
I think Mueck’s sculptures are incredible! The realistic detail he includes, such as veins visible in the skin, show his care and eye for detail. His work also tends to follow themes of the life cycle, from infancy to old age. You can see Flickr for more pictures of Ron Mueck’s sculptures and the set-up process.
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What A Lovely Forehead You Have August 4, 2007
Posted by Miss Weird Scientist in Evolution, Genetics, Human Body, Think About It.add a comment
We can give thanks to chance that we don’t have the heavily browed foreheads of our Neanderthal relatives. Any guesses why that is? Read on to find out!
A Quick Background
Since modern humans and Neanderthals became isolated from one another – approximately half a million years ago – lots of changes have occurred and the two have mostly gone their separate ways, genetically speaking. Given that scientists are such curious and meddling creatures, they are constantly investigating how these changes happen and they continue to search (and argue!) for the reasoning behind it all. A new study published in the Journal of Human Evolution has shed some light on the skull differences between modern humans and Neanderthals. The conclusion? Good, old chance. Pun fully intended.
Lets Check Out Some Skulls
Timothy Weaver of the University of California, Davis, and his research team analyzed a lot of skulls! They compared 37 measurements of modern human skulls with Neanderthal skulls and calculated the mean divergence, which is just the average difference between the measurements. Next, they took a separate sample of modern human skulls, compared those 37 measurements within the sample, and calculated the mean divergence. Finally, they contrasted their two calculations to figure it all out. The researchers’ conclusion? Genetic drift is responsible for the skull differences, not positive natural selection. With positive natural selection, certain traits get carried on from one generation to the next as a response to changes in the environment. Genetic drift is different though. With genetic drift, physical features just randomly change. There’s no environmental driving force like you would see with positive natural selection.
Credit: All images by Encyclopaedia Britannica. The picture at the very top shows a Neanderthal skull. The one directly above depicts the same, but also shows the skeleton of a modern human leering in the background!
Old Research Versus New
In the past, researchers had thought that these particular cranial differences were due to natural selection that occurred for other reasons, such as Neanderthals’ use of teeth as tools! Also, anthropologists had considered that modern human speech drove the changes. According to Weaver, it’s the development of culture that’s responsible for subduing the environment’s effect on Neanderthals and modern humans. It’s probably not so much a case of one or the other – positive natural selection or genetic drift – it’s likely a combination of the two in varying degrees. With positive natural selection less dominant, it’s again more likely that the cranial differences are due to genetic drift. So ultimately, what he’s saying is that modern humans can chalk up their dashing good looks to chance!
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Deep Brain Stimulation August 3, 2007
Posted by Miss Weird Scientist in Human Body, Technology, Think About It.add a comment
Six years ago, a man was badly beaten, leaving him minimally conscious and with a severe brain injury. Only able to make slight eye or finger movements, his life appeared to be permanently changed. Today – after receiving deep brain stimulation, he is able to chew food, swallow and use words. The results of his treatment have been published in the journal Nature.
How It Works
Dr. Ali Rezai, a neurosurgeon at Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Neurological Restoration, carried out the procedure. Deep brain stimulation isn’t a new treatment – it’s already used for Parkinson’s disease, where it works to reduce the tremors that sufferers experience. During the procedure, a patient has electrodes implanted into specific areas of the brain.
Credit: Cleveland Clinic. The X-ray image shows the man’s brain as it undergoes electrical stimulation. The sight of implanted electrodes could leave a person cringing, but the results show major potential for treating brain injuries.
Electrical Pulses
Over a six month period, researchers used electrical stimulation and alternated this with fake stimulation to properly assess if it was working on the man. Within just 48 hours of the first stimulation, the man could keep his eyes open, turn his head and speak words. After several treatments, the man can now complete more complex tasks such as brushing his hair. What about eating? Well, prior to the treatment, he received a feeding tube. Now, he can chew and swallow his food.
So What’s Next?
Twelve more patients will soon undergo the same electrical stimulation to see if they respond in similar ways. If so, the entire standard of care for minimally conscious brain injured patients could dramatically change. Most of these patients end up in long-term care facilities because their mobility and functioning is virtually non-existent. If electrical stimulation proves successful in more patients, it can mean the difference between constant care and a certain amount of independence.
More Research Is Needed
More research is still needed to help identify which patients will benefit from deep brain stimulation. The causes and levels of brain injuries vary, which means the response can vary a lot from one patient to another. Research is also important to help gauge the long-term effects of the treatment. For now, the results can offer brain injury sufferers and their families something that tends to be in short supply. Hope.
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Dudes On A Mission August 2, 2007
Posted by Miss Weird Scientist in Easy As Pie, Human Body, Nutrition and Health, Psychology and Behavior.add a comment
This video is a clip from the Food Dude program, which has been developed to get kids eating more fruits and vegetables. In this video, Charlie, Tom, Raz and Rocco are on a mission to protect everyone from General Junk, the evil miscreant who plans to steal fruits and vegetables to destroy the world.
The program was developed by psychologists at the University of Wales Bangor. In February, a pilot trial to test it out at 150 primary schools in Ireland was so successful that the government decided to extend it nationally to all children aged 4 to 11. In addition to the Food Dude video, the program works to get taste buds familiar with the food by having kids repeatedly eat fruits and vegetables. Kids also take home educational packs for their parents so that fruit and vegetable consumption can be monitored at home. On top of that, kids get cool pens, pencils and stickers as rewards for their efforts.
The Food Dude Program Is Working
I’ll admit that the video does seem a bit on the silly side but the evidence thus far shows that it works! The Food Dude program has performed better than other child-focused nutritional programs aimed at increasing fruit and vegetable intake. One of the challenges of any nutritional program is to create long-term changes. So, while some programs might initially get kids eating more fruits and vegetables, the change doesn’t last, and the kids soon fall back into their old bad habits.
Wow
With the Food Dude program trial, 90 percent of the kids are now eating one or more portions of fruit each day instead of none. Better still, 80 percent of the kids who participated in the study are eating at least one portion of vegetables each day. The trial indicated that these results lasted at least 18 months, which means that the changes are less likely to be temporary ones.
It’s Cheap
The Food Dude program costs £35 per child, which is approximately $70 Canadian or slightly above in United States dollars. Given the enormous costs related to treating diseases that are linked to low fruit and vegetable consumption, it’s actually a very cheap program. It also works at eating habits early on rather than later, when it can be more challenging to change behaviors related to diet and nutrition.
Bring It On
With diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart disease showing strong, clear links to poor intakes of fruits and vegetables, it’s really important to find ways to encourage people to make healthy changes. Obesity is an equally challenging concern and the addition of fruits and vegetables can really help with weight control. Given the success of the Food Dude program, I hope it makes its entrance into North American schools, and that it does so very quickly. Bring it on!
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A Computer Generated Shark Bite August 1, 2007
Posted by Miss Weird Scientist in Deep Sea, Easy As Pie, Marine Life, Ocean, Technology.2 comments
A group of scientists in Australia have a plan. It involves sharks and computers. Weird combination? Actually, it makes perfect sense! They want to test out the biting power of the Great White shark. To accomplish this goal, they’re building a three-dimensional (3-D) computer model to help them figure it out. Stephen Wroe of the University of New South Wales is leading the team of researchers. Together, they are also working with researchers from the University of Newcastle as well as the University of Tampa, which is located in Florida. They are using data from a shark that was previously caught using beach nets. The shark is 7.8 feet long and the scientists are looking at the shark’s jaw and facial muscles.
Credit: Encyclopaedia Britannica.
It’s Useful Information
Shark bites can cause a lot of damage and I’m not just talking about bites to humans. Dan Huber-a shark biologist working with the Australian team-is investigating whether sharks caused damage to submarine cables and communication systems on U.S. Navy submarines.
Researchers Have A Plan
Using 3-D computer simulations, the researchers are hoping to figure out the bite force, feeding behavior and cranial mechanics of the Great White shark. It seems like a logical and safe way to do it. Researchers had already tried to figure out the shark’s bite force by using underwater experiments. These experiments, however, were unsuccessful. It’s because sharks have bitten through stuff with more force than what researchers have seen in underwater experiments. What we observe in a limited time-period and a restricted space underwater isn’t always an accurate representation of what really happens throughout the ocean depths.
Bite Proof Materials
If researchers can attain their goal of figuring out the Great White shark’s bite force and related mechanics, this information can then be used to create stronger, shark bite resistant materials for submarines and similar projects. The Great White shark may have sharp teeth and a powerful jaw, but if the researchers can figure this one out, the shark’s teeth won’t be able to sink too far into the new bite resistant materials!
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