Desert plant may hold key to surviving food shortage- June 19, 2008 The plant, Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi, is unique because, unlike normal plants, it captures most of its carbon dioxide at night when the air is cooler and more humid, making it 10 times more water-efficient than major crops such as wheat. Scientists will use the latest next-generation DNA sequencing to analyse the plant's genetic code and understand how these plants function at night. read morehttp://www.scienceblog.com/cms/desert-plant-may-hold-key-surviving-food-shortage-16724.htm... Common knowledge- June 19, 2008 Language depends on common knowledge. But does common knowledge truly exist read morehttp://www.scienceblog.com/cms/blog/4909-common-knowledge-16723.html Could exposure to low doses of radiation cure our ills- June 19, 2008 For decades, we have been told that exposure to radiation is dangerous. In high doses it is certainly lethal and chronic exposure is linked to the development of cancer. But, what if a short-term controlled exposure to a low dose of radiation were good for our health read morehttp://www.scienceblog.com/cms/could-exposure-low-doses-radiation-cure-our-ills-16722.html Ancient fort opens new chapter in First Nations' history- June 19, 2008 A fortified village that pre-dates European arrival in Western Canada and is the only one of its kind discovered on the Canadian plains is yielding intriguing evidence of an unknown First Nations group settling on the prairies and is rekindling new ties between the Siksika Nation (Blackfoot) and aboriginal groups in the United States. read morehttp://www.scienceblog.com/cms/ancient-fort-opens-new-chapter-first-nations-history-16721.... Hormones prepare seabird chicks to kill their siblings- June 19, 2008 The Nazca booby, a Galpagos Island seabird, emerges from its shell ready to kill its brother or sister. Wake Forest University biologists and their colleagues have linked the murderous behavior to high levels of testosterone and other male hormones found in the hatchlings. read morehttp://www.scienceblog.com/cms/hormones-prepare-seabird-chicks-kill-their-siblings-16720.h... Thinking ahead: Bacteria anticipate coming changes in their environment- June 19, 2008 Microbes may be smarter than we think. A new study by Princeton University researchers shows for the first time that bacteria don't just react to changes in their surroundings -- they anticipate and prepare for them. read morehttp://www.scienceblog.com/cms/thinking-ahead-bacteria-anticipate-coming-changes-their-env... Lady chimps like quiet sex- June 18, 2008 Female chimps are more concerned with having sex with many different males than finding the strongest mate, according to researchers. The new study, published in PLoS ONE on June 18, by University of St Andrews scientists suggests that female chimps keep quiet during sex so that other females don't find out about it, thus preventing any unwanted competition. read morehttp://www.scienceblog.com/cms/chimp-chicks-quiet-sex-16718.html Ocean temperatures and sea level increases 50 percent higher than previously estimated- June 18, 2008 New research suggests that ocean temperature and associated sea level increases between 1961 and 2003 were 50 percent larger than estimated in the 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. read morehttp://www.scienceblog.com/cms/blog/6620-ocean-temperatures-and-sea-level-increases-50-per... NASA: Black holes have simple feeding habits- June 18, 2008 The biggest black holes may feed just like the smallest ones, according to data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and ground-based telescopes. This discovery supports the implication of Einstein's relativity theory that black holes of all sizes have similar properties, and will be useful for predicting the properties of a conjectured new class of black holes. read morehttp://www.scienceblog.com/cms/nasa-black-holes-have-simple-feeding-habits-16715.html Great apes plan ahead- June 18, 2008 Apes can plan for their future needs just as we humans can by using self-control and imagining future events. read morehttp://www.scienceblog.com/cms/great-apes-plan-ahead-16714.html |