A Tale of Wolves, Moose and Missing Ice

Brought to you by Madi M.

https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/wild-things/tale-wolves-moose-and-missing-ice

With few wolves left on Isle Royale, the moose population has been growing.

Ray Dumas/Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Deep-Sea Vehicle Nereus Lost 6 Miles Down

Brought to you by Charlotte

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/05/140512-nereus-deep-sea-vehicle-lost-ocean-technology-science/?rptregcta=reg_free_np&rptregcampaign=20131016_rw_membership_r1p_us_ot_w#native-reg

The deep-sea research vehicle Nereus, owned and operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, was one of a kind.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ADVANCED IMAGING AND VISUALIZATION LAB, WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION

Small Cubes that Self-Assemble - MIT Video

Brought to you by Brian

http://video.mit.edu/watch/small-cubes-that-self-assemble-25913/

http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/04/mit-builds-modular-robots-that-self-assemble/

Football: Concussions, Years of Play Related to Brain Differences, Especially in Areas Linked to Memory

Brought to you by Ben Z.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140513161722.htm

College football players with and without a history of concussions have less volume in the hippocampal region of the brain that relates to memory and emotion.

Credit: Image courtesy of University of Tulsa

If Superpowers Were Real: Super Speed - TED Ed Video

Brought to you by Jake

http://ed.ted.com/lessons/if-superpowers-were-real-super-speed-joy-lin

http://ed.ted.com/lessons/if-superpowers-were-real-super-speed-joy-lin

A Giant Among Dinosaurs, Discovered in Argentina

Brought to you by Emily

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/05/18/313608255/a-giant-among-dinosaurs-discovered-in-argentina

Pablo Puerta of the Museo Paleontologico Egidio Feruglio lies alongside a sauropod dinosaur femur. Paleontologists from the museum have announced the discovery of a new species of titanosaur, the largest animals known to walk the Earth.

Jose Maria Farfaglia/Museo Paleontologico Egidio Feruglio via AP

Brain Zaps Can Trigger Lucid Dreams

Brought to you by Emmie

http://www.livescience.com/45520-brain-zaps-trigger-lucid-dreams.html

In lucid dreams, people are aware of the fact that they are dreaming, and can control their dream plot.

Credit: Bruce Rolff, Shutterstock

The Death of the Universe - TED-Ed

Brought to you by Ben Z

http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-death-of-the-universe-renee-hlozek

http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/mSzCS_5qtVY/maxresdefault.jpg

DIY VIDEO: How to Make an Edible Water "Bottle"

http://inhabitat.com/nyc/diy-video-how-to-make-an-edible-water-bottle/

http://inhabitat.com/nyc/diy-video-how-to-make-an-edible-water-bottle/edible-water-bottle-lead/?extend=1

Mystery of Bizarre Duck-Like Ocean Sound Solved

Brought to you by Ben Z.

http://www.livescience.com/45033-mystery-of-ocean-duck-sound-revealed.html

Credit: Ari S. Friedlaender

The source of the bizarre "bio-duck" sound has finally been found. 

No Memories of Infancy? Your Growing Brain is to Blame, Study Says

Brought to you by Lilah

http://www.latimes.com/science/la-sci-sn-memories-infancy-brain-growth-20140508-story.html

In the brain's hippocampus, a structure critical to the formation of new memories, newly formed neurons (in white) jostle to enter the fray and form new connections of their own. In the process, say researchers, some still-fragile memories may be swept away. (Jason Snyder/AAAS)

The Ice of a Distant Moon

Brought to you by Yvette

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/ice-distant-moon?mode=magazine&context=188465

CRACKING EUROPA'S SHELL  

Beneath the icy layer cloaking Jupiter’s fourth-largest moon, Europa, scientists believe a vast ocean and a geologically active seafloor could potentially hold habitats for life. Several groups have begun devising ways to burrow beneath Europa’s frozen surface.

JPL-Caltech/NASA

How to Make Filthy Water Drinkable - TED.com

http://www.ted.com/talks/michael_pritchard_invents_a_water_fer?utm_campaign=&awesm=on.ted.com_d0BAL&utm_content=asm-publisher&utm_source=m.facebook.com&utm_medium=on.ted.com-facebook-share

https://fbexternal-a.akamaihd.net/safe_image.php?d=AQBzWNcPG9bviqHq&w=470&h=246&url=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.ted.com%2Fimages%2Fted%2F106979_615x461.jpg&cfs=1&upscale&sx=0&sy=0&sw=614&sh=321

This Molecular Sensor Fits in Your Hand, Reads Your Food

http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/02/tech/innovation/molecular-sensor-fits-in-your-hand/index.html?c=tech

SCiO is a pocket molecular sensor that allows users to check the nutritional value of food, among other things

Infected Cutting Boards

https://student.societyforscience.org/article/infected-cutting-boards

Bacteria from meat can contaminate the cutting boards used to prepare foods in the kitchen.

National Cancer Institute

The Dangerous Rise of Electronic Cigarettes

Brought to you by Christina

https://student.societyforscience.org/article/dangerous-rise-electronic-cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes are billed as a healthier alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes. However, e-cigarettes still expose users to nicotine, the addictive drug found in tobacco. That has health experts worried that teens’ increased use of e-cigarettes will lead to increased tobacco use, too — and reverse the steep decline in teen-smoking rates.

miriam-doerr/iStockphoto 

DARPA- Funded Atlas Robot to Go Tetherless in the Next Six Months

Brought to you by Miss Ghazarian

http://time.com/52556/darpa-funded-atlas-robot-to-go-tetherless-in-the-next-six-months/#

http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=120453

The Infinite Hotel Paradox - Jeff Dekofky - YouTube

Brought to you by Lilah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj3_KqkI9Zo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj3_KqkI9Zo

Drill Here? NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover Inspects Site - NASA JPL

Brought to you by Jake F.

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2014-129

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has driven within robotic-arm's reach of the sandstone slab at the center of this April 23 view from the rover's Mast Camera. The rover team plans to have Curiosity examine a target patch on the rock, called "Windjana," to aid a decision about whether to drill there. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Using a Foreign Language Changes Moral Decisions

Brought to you by Samantha

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140428120659.htm

http://www.philosophymatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/decisions007.jpg

How Old Are Your Ears? - YouTube

Brought to you by Abby 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxcbppCX6Rk

http://musician-makers.com/main/why-you-need-fresh-ears/

Getting a Head Start on Autism

https://student.societyforscience.org/article/getting-head-start-autism

Researchers at Vanderbilt University have designed Russell the robot (background). It helps teach kids with autism, like this young boy, how to imitate people and to interact with them. 

Vanderbilt University

The Quake That Shook Up Geology

https://student.societyforscience.org/article/quake-shook-geology-Alaska-1964

The 1964 Great Alaska Quake caused several downtown areas of Anchorage to collapse. Here, that 11-foot (3.4 meter) drop — or subsidence — took a line of parked cars with it. Before the event, the sidewalk (left) had been as high as the street (far right).

U.S. Army 1964, USGS.gov

Brain Size Matters When it Comes to Animal Self-Control

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140422113437.htm

Screenshot of video illustrating squirrel inhibition failure.

Credit: Image courtesy of University of California - Berkeley

NASA Cassini Images May Reveal Birth of a Saturn Moon

Brought to you by Mr. Brennan

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2014-112&utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NASAJPL&utm_content=cassini20140414

The disturbance visible at the outer edge of Saturn's A ring in this image from NASA's Cassini spacecraft results from gravitational effects on ring particles by an object that may be replaying the birth process of icy moons. Cassini's narrow-angle camera recorded this view on April 15, 2013.

Into the Deep: Expedition Seeks Life in Ocean Trench

Brought to you by Angela

http://www.livescience.com/44772-kermadec-trench-expedition-planned.html

A fish investigating a baited camera on the Atlantic's deep seafloor.
Credit: RSS James Cook Cruise 62

Exploring Other Dimensions - TED Talk

Brought to you by Arthur

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6kn6nXMWF0

A computer-generated rendering of a possible six-dimensional geometry similar to those studied by UW-Madison physicist Gary Shiu.

Image: courtesy Andrew J. Hanson, Indiana University

Artists Have Structurally Different Brains, Study Finds

Brought to you by Juliet

http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/permalink/2014/04/17/artistsdifferentbrains

 _DJ_@flickr adapted under Creative Commons ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Deadly H5N1 Bird Flu Needs Just 5 Mutations to Spread Easily in People

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-bird-flu-five-mutations-20140410,0,6818032.story?track=lat-email-healthreport

                                             Health workers slaughtered chickens at a wholesale poultry market in Hong Kong after three dead chickens tested positive for "bird flu" in 2008. New research shows the H5N1 flu virus could become easily transmissible among people if it acquired just five genetic mutations. 

(Kin Cheung / Associated Press)

Small Microbes Almost Killed All Life on Earth, Study Suggests

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-permian-extinction-microbes-20140401,0,818600.story?track=lat-email-healthreport

      MIT professor of geophysics Daniel Rothman stands next to part of the Xiakou formation in China. His right hand rests on the layer that marks the time of the end-Permian mass extinction event. Samples from this formation provided evidence for large amounts of nickel that were spewed from volcanic activity at this time, 252 million years ago. 

  (Dan Rothman)

Possible New Target to Attack Flu Virus Identified

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140410153626.htm

This region of the NS1 viral protein binds the host protein DDX21, making it a potential target for new antivirals against the influenza virusBetter antiviral drugs could help the millions of people annually infected by flu, which kills up to 500,000 people each year.

Credit: Image Courtesy of University of Texas at Austin

First 'Exomoon' Around Alien Planet Possibly Found

http://www.space.com/25438-exomoon-around-alien-planet-discovery.html

Researchers have detected the first potential "exomoon" candidate, a moon orbiting an alien planet beyond our solar system. This artist's illustration shows a possible view of the exomoon (left) and a version of the system if it is actually a star and planet.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

A 'Wedding Ring' in Space

https://student.societyforscience.org/article/%E2%80%98wedding-ring%E2%80%99-space

The expanding shell of gas shown here, called Abell 33, glows blue. It’s the remnant of a dying star. The bright star that appears to sit on the ring’s edge actually is nowhere near that shell of gas. 

ESO

Kangaroos Have 'Green' Farts

https://student.societyforscience.org/article/kangaroos-have-green-farts

Microbes from the digestive tract of Eastern gray kangaroos (like the one shown here with her joey) appear to explain the climate-friendly flatulence of these animals. 

JohnCarnemolla/iStockphoto

Fruit Flies, Fighter Jets Use Similar Nimble Tactics When Under Attack

Brought to you by Samantha

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140410141745.htm

Time lapse images from a high speed video shows how a fruit fly startled by a looming shadow (off camera at the bottom right) performs a rapid roll to bank away from the threat.

Credit: F. Muijres, University of Washington

Earthquake-Triggered Lightning?

https://student.societyforscience.org/article/earthquake-triggered-lightning

People typically associate lightning with storm clouds, as shown here. But in some rare instances, earthquakes appear to generate the same electrical discharge. The big difference: That lightning can occur despite a clear sky, one free of any clouds. 

JCPJR/iStockphoto

Edheads - Virtual Hip Replacement Surgery

http://www.edheads.org/activities/hip/

*Disclaimer: Graphic Surgery Photos*

http://www.edheads.org/activities/hip/

Testing the Five-Second Rule

http://www.timeforkids.com/news/testing-five-second-rule/152426

An Ashton University study found that food dropped on a carpet is less likely to contain germs than food dropped on laminate and tiled surfaces.

GETTY IMAGES

Human Nose Can Detect a Trillion Smells

http://news.sciencemag.org/biology/2014/03/human-nose-can-detect-trillion-smells?rss=1

Zach Veilleux/The Rockefeller University

One in a trillion. 

The vials of smells that volunteers sniffed in the new study were only a tiny sampling of all the possible smells that humans can distinguish.  

Photos of Beautifully Arranged Microscopic Algae Put Science In Perspective

Brought to you by Davis

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/07/arranged-diatoms_n_4740730.html?utm_hp_ref=art-meets-science

Photograph of diatoms arranged on a microscope slide by W.M. Grant.
California Academy of Sciences Geology Arranged Diatoms on Microscope Slides in the California Academy of Sciences Diatom Collection 

Naimor: The Solution for Oil Spills

Brought to you by Morgan

http://www.naimor.com/

NAIMOR: 3D Nanostructure Material for Oil Spill Remediation

http://www.naimor.com/

Pocket Diagnosis: App Turns Any Smartphone into a Portable Medical Diagnostic Device

Brought to you by Ben Z.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140319103612.htm

By quickly getting medical data from the field to doctors or centralized laboratories, it may help slow or limit the spread of pandemics, the authors note.

Credit: Image courtesy of University of Cambridge

Study Links BP Oil Spill to Dolphin Deaths

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/dec/18/bp-oil-spill-dolphin-deaths-gulf-of-mexico

A dolphin is seen swimming through an oil sheen from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill off East Grand Terre Island, where the Gulf of Mexico meets Barataria Bay, on the Louisiana coast, July 31, 2010. 

 Photograph: Gerald Herbert/AP

Nearly 200 New Species of Parasitic Wasps Discovered in Costa Rica

Brought to you by Hudson

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/03/140304-parasitoid-wasp-costa-rica-new-species-conservation-diversity-science/

This image shows one of the new species Apanteles albanjimenezi, named after the parataxonomist Alban Jiménez in recognition of his diligent efforts for the ACG Programa de Educacion Biológica

Credit: José Fernández-Triana; CC-BY 4.0

Blue Eyes in the Stone Age

Brought to you by Ben Z.

https://student.societyforscience.org/article/blue-eyes-stone-age

This is an artist’s educated guess as to what La Braña 1 might have looked like. 

Carles Lalueza-Fox, Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-UPF) 

Deadly Lake Natron Turns Animals Into Ghostly 'Statues'

Brought to you by Davis

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/03/calcified-animals_n_4032659.html?utm_hp_ref=art-meets-science

Calcified dove. Nick Brandt

How Do Volcanologists Predict Volcanic Eruptions

Brought to you by Samantha

http://volcanoworld.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/how-do-volcanologists-predict-volcanic-eruptions/

http://volcanoworld.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/how-do-volcanologists-predict-volcanic-eruptions/

Ancient "Giant Virus" Revived From Siberian Permafrost

Brought to you by Juliet

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/03/140303-giant-virus-permafrost-siberia-pithovirus-pandoravirus-science/

A Pithovirus (above, as viewed by electron microscopy) was found to be still active and able to infect an amoeba.

Image courtesy Julia Bartoli and Chantal Abergel, IGS and CNRS-AMU

Crocodiles and Corals: Face-to-Face With Cuba's Coral Reef

Brought to you by Juliet

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2014/03/03/crocodiles-to-corals/?utm_source=NatGeocom&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=inside_20140306&utm_campaign=Content

How close is too close? In a world where the American Crocodile is an endangered species, the population in the Gardens of the Queen is thriving. 

Photo by Erika Bergman