A Blog Around The Clock

‘Ecstasy’ Linked To Survival Of Key Movement-related Cells In Brain:

New research from the University of Cincinnati suggests that the widely abused club drug “ecstasy,” or MDMA, can increase the survival of dopamine cells in the brain during fetal development. Because these cells are critical in the regulation of voluntary movement, the findings, the researchers say, may lead to better therapies for neurological diseases like Parkinson’s.

Latest Buzz: Marijuana May Slow Progression Of Alzheimer’s Disease:

New evidence in rats suggests that marijuana may contain compounds that slow the memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Marijuana has strong anti-inflammatory effects, and many researchers believe that there is a compelling link between chronic inflammation and the progression of Alzheimer’s.

Synchronous Neuronal Firing May Underlie Parkinson’s Disease:

In a finding that contradicts current theories behind Parkinson’s disease, neuroscientists at Duke University Medical Center have discovered in mice that critical nerve cells fire all at the same time and thus overwhelm the brain’s ability to control the body’s movements.

Commercial Fishing Causes Dangerous Fluctuations In Fish Populations, Research Shows:

Commercial fishing causes serious fluctuations in fish populations leaving them in danger of total collapse, says new research published this week. These fluctuations mean current measures in place to control fish stocks may not be sufficient to ensure their sustainability.

How Ants Find Their Way:

Ever wondered how ants find their way straight to the uncovered food in your kitchen? Now scientists have discovered how the humble wood ant navigates over proportionally huge distances, using just very poor eyesight and confusing and changing natural landmarks. The research could have significant benefits in the development of autonomous robots and in furthering our understanding of basic animal learning processes.

Learning To Live With Oxygen On Early Earth:

Scientists at the Carnegie Institution and Penn State University have discovered evidence showing that microbes adapted to living with oxygen 2.72 billion years ago, at least 300 million years before the rise of oxygen in the atmosphere. The finding is the first concrete validation of a long-held hypothesis that oxygen was being produced and consumed by that time and that the transition to an oxygenated atmosphere was long term.

Have Traits, Will Travel: Some Butterflies Travel Farther, Reproduce Faster:

Researchers have uncovered physiological differences among female Glanville fritillary butterflies that allows some to move away from their birth place and establish new colonies. These venturesome butterflies are stronger fliers and reproduce more quickly compared to their less mobile female relatives. The study, to be presented at Comparative Physiology 2006, is a window to how genetic differences influence behavior and how the environment influences genetic change.

Organic Farming Has Little, If Any, Effect On Nutritional Content Of Wheat, Study Concludes:

Organically grown wheat may have different labeling and a higher price in stores, but it contains essentially the same profile of amino acids, sugars and other metabolic substances as wheat grown with conventional farming. That’s the conclusion of a German study, which produced perhaps the most comprehensive metabolic profile of wheat from organic and conventional agriculture.

Possible Evidence Of Cell Division, Differentiation Found In Oldest Known Embryo Fossils:

A group of 15 scientists from five countries has discovered evidence of cell differentiation in fossil embryos that are more than 550 million years old. They also report what appear to be cells about to divide. The discovery will be reported in the Oct. 13 issue of Science, in the article, “Cellular and Subcellular Structure of Neoproterozoic Animal Embryos.”

Giant Pandas See In Color:

They may be black and white, but new research at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Zoo Atlanta shows that giant pandas can see in color. Graduate researcher Angela Kelling tested the ability of two Zoo Atlanta pandas, Yang Yang and Lun Lun, to see color and found that both pandas were able to discriminate between colors and various shades of gray. The research is published in the journal Learning and Behavior, volume 34 issue 2.

Vax And Pax: Taking Turns To Build An Eye:

Opposing ball clubs don’t take the field at the same time, and neither do teams of proteins responsible for creating the eye. That’s why researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies were surprised to find the respective team captains — Vax2, a protein that along with Vax1 builds the optic nerve cord, and Pax6, a protein that drives retinal fate — playing on the same field.

Decaffeinated Coffee Is Not Caffeine-free, Experts Say:

People advised to avoid caffeine because of certain medical conditions like hypertension should be aware that even decaffeinated brew can come with a kick.

Marine Life Stirs Ocean Enough To Affect Climate, Study Says:

Oceanographers worldwide pay close attention to phytoplankton and with good reason. The microscopic plants that form the vast foundation of the marine food chain generate a staggering amount of power, and now a groundbreaking study led by Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla., has calculated just how much —- about five times the annual total power consumption of the human world.

So, it’s not fish that make waves…I see.
Brain Regions Do Not Communicate Efficiently In Adults With Autism:

A novel look at the brains of adults with autism has provided new evidence that various brain regions of people with the developmental disorder do not communicate with each other as efficiently as they do in other people.

Extreme Environment Changes Fish Appearance:

The world of the Devils Hole pupfish is a small place. The entire species lives in one rocky pool, 20 meters long and three meters wide, in a cave entrance in Death Valley, California. But their environment is not only cramped: it also has a profound effect on the fishes’ appearance, raising questions about how rare species can be protected from extinction.

Does Missing Gene Point To Nocturnal Existence For Early Mammals?:

A gene that makes cells in the eye receptive to light is missing in humans, researchers have discovered. They say that whereas some animals like birds, fish and amphibians have two versions of this photoreceptor, mammals, including humans, only have one.

Wow – this is so old. I wrote about this months ago.
First Direct Evidence That Human Activity Is Linked To Antarctic Ice Shelf Collapse:

The first direct evidence linking human activity to the collapse of Antarctic ice shelves is published this week in the Journal of Climate. Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey, the Center for Polar Observation and Modeling, University College London and the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, reveal that stronger westerly winds in the northern Antarctic Peninsula, driven principally by human-induced climate change, are responsible for the marked regi onal summer warming that led to the retreat and collapse of the northern Larsen Ice Shelf.

Adolescent But Not Adult Hamsters Are More Aggressive On Low Dose Of Fluoxetine:

New research offers tantalizing clues as to why some teenagers taking common anti-depressants may become more aggressive or kill themselves. The research is published in the October Behavioral Neuroscience, which is published by the American Psychological Association (APA).

Spring In Your Step Helps Avert Disastrous Stumbles, Scientists Say:

From graceful ballerinas to clumsy-looking birds, everyone occasionally loses their footing. New Harvard University research suggests that it could literally be the spring, or damper, in your step that helps you bounce back from a stumble.